DEL RIO, TEXAS – Jerson Alberto Rivera-Kelly, 37, a Honduran national and lawful permanent resident, is facing a decade behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of running an alien smuggling operation near the Texas-Mexico border. The conviction, handed down July 21, 2025, in Del Rio, exposes a network preying on vulnerable individuals desperate to enter the United States.
The bust originated in October 2024 when a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent spotted Rivera-Kelly driving an SUV south on Highway 2083, near Comstock – roughly 20 miles north of the Mexican border. USBP was already actively searching for a group of five suspected illegal aliens. Rivera-Kelly quickly became a person of interest.
A traffic stop revealed the grim reality: five individuals crammed into Rivera-Kelly’s vehicle, actively attempting to conceal themselves from authorities. Agents quickly determined all five were, in fact, attempting to illegally enter the United States. Rivera-Kelly was immediately taken into custody, and the investigation swiftly escalated.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence leading to an indictment in November 2024, charging Rivera-Kelly with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens and one count of illegal alien transportation for profit. The jury didn’t hesitate, finding him guilty on both counts. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, alongside up to three years of supervised release, and a hefty $250,000 fine. Restitution may also be ordered.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced the conviction, highlighting the case as a key component of “Operation Take Back America.” This nationwide initiative, according to the Department of Justice, aims to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The operation streamlines resources from Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The USBP spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and Ashley Ellis-Dotson skillfully prosecuting the case. While one smuggler is off the streets, the demand for illicit border crossings continues to fuel the dangerous trade. The Grimy Times will continue to track the sentencing and any further developments in this case, and the broader fight against human smuggling along the southern border.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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