Smuggler Ruiz-Hernandez Convicted in Ship Channel Death

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal jury in Brownsville has delivered a guilty verdict to Galdino Jose Ruiz-Hernandez, 37, an undocumented alien from Oaxaca, Mexico, in connection with the death of a woman he was smuggling across the border. The conviction comes after a harrowing two-day trial detailing a botched smuggling attempt that ended in tragedy, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

The evidence laid bare a grim scene. On April 24, 2015, Ruiz-Hernandez reported a floating body in the Brownsville ship channel, claiming a “friend” had spotted it. Law enforcement quickly discovered the body, bearing injuries consistent with a violent impact. While initially arrested for illegal reentry after prior deportation, the investigation quickly spiraled, revealing a larger alien smuggling operation and charging Ruiz-Hernandez accordingly.

The court learned Ruiz-Hernandez wasn’t a good Samaritan, but a guide. He was actively leading the female illegal alien through the murky waters of the ship channel at midnight when they were struck by a U.S. Coast Guard boat. Testimony revealed he was working on behalf of Gabriel Sanchez-Aburto, 46, who had transported him to Mexico to retrieve the victim. The pair illegally entered the U.S., approached the ship channel, and attempted the dangerous water crossing under cover of darkness. The autopsy confirmed the Coast Guard vessel’s propeller caused the fatal injuries.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, as part of the broader investigation, arrested Sanchez-Aburto on October 27, 2015, while he was engaged in smuggling *other* aliens. The raid uncovered seven additional undocumented aliens and led to the arrests of three brothers – Lazaro Comunidad-Hernandez, 48, Pablo Comunidad-Hernandez, 25, and Luciano Comunidad-Hernandez, 39, all from Puebla, Mexico – complicit in the operation. The Comunidad-Hernandez brothers have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 15 months and will face deportation upon their release.

Sanchez-Aburto himself has pleaded guilty to the alien smuggling charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2017. Meanwhile, Ruiz-Hernandez, convicted of the most serious charge, now awaits his fate. U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle has scheduled his sentencing for April 10, 2017. He faces a potential life sentence and will remain in federal custody until that hearing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Jason Corley, with the investigation spearheaded by HSI agents. This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the deadly risks associated with illegal border crossings and the ruthless individuals profiting from human desperation. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of all involved parties.