San Antonio, TX – Guatemalan national Noe Mardoquero Calel-Cabinal, 261, was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens after being pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on Highway 85 near Dilley on March 24, 2024.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Calel-Cabinal allegedly presented a Guatemalan identification card, did not have proper immigration documentation to be in the U.S. legally, and could not provide a reason for being in the area that aligned with his travel route. A criminal complaint alleges that Calel-Cabinal later confessed to being in the area to pick up and transport four illegal aliens to San Antonio and would be paid $1,300 per illegal alien. A review of his cell phone allegedly confirmed Calel-Cabinal’s confession.

Calel-Cabinal is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Antonio on April 2, 2024.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed 261 immigration and immigration-related cases in the Western District of Texas from March 21 through March 27.

Among the new cases, Guatemalan national Noe Mardoquero Calel-Cabinal was pulled over March 24 on Highway 85 near Dilley by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. The area is known to be commonly used to smuggle undocumented aliens further into the U.S. from Mexico. A U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped to assist with the traffic stop. Calel-Cabinal allegedly presented a Guatemalan identification card, did not have proper immigration documentation to be in the U.S. legally, and could not provide a reason for being in the area that aligned with his travel route.

Calel-Cabinal is accused of transporting illegal aliens for a fee, with the possibility of earning $1,300 per alien. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 2, 2024 in San Antonio. The charges against Calel-Cabinal carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Related Federal Cases

Albino Vargas-Hernandez, Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens, Texas 2018 · Idaho
Pedro Silva Segura, Conspiracy to Transport Undocumented Aliens Resulting in Death, Texas 2017 · Texas
Trajahn Alexander Johnson, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death, Arizona 2023 · Texas
Ramon Moreno-Lopez, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Arizona 2023 · Texas
Lisandro Garcia-Ramirez, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, Missouri 2025 · Kansas