Federal prosecutors say four people have been arrested in connection with a human smuggling operation in the Rio Grande Valley, including two who are in the United States illegally.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei announced Thursday that Enrique Gonzalez, 57, of Weslaco, and Mexican national Erick Vallejo-Zapata, 21, are scheduled to appear in federal court in McAllen on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan Alanis.
Rigoberto Esteban Perez-Cruz, 37, of Edinburg, and Mexican national Mirza Garcia-Zapata, 37, already made their initial court appearances and remain in custody pending detention hearings set for Tuesday.
According to a criminal complaint, the four suspects allegedly housed migrants in multiple residences across Hidalgo County. Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata, and Garcia-Zapata are also accused of transporting migrants throughout South Texas.
Authorities arrested Perez-Cruz Wednesday during a traffic stop in Edinburg, where officers say they found a migrant in his passenger seat. Investigators then executed search warrants at two stash houses in Edinburg and nearby Donna, where they discovered 24 additional migrants, including two unaccompanied minors.
Prosecutors allege Garcia-Zapata and Perez-Cruz acted as caretakers of the stash houses, while Gonzalez and Vallejo-Zapata moved migrants between locations.
The migrants came from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, and India.
Officials say nine migrants face felony charges of illegal reentry after removal, which carry sentences of up to 10 years in federal prison. Another 10 are charged with illegal entry into the United States.
If convicted, Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata, Garcia-Zapata, and Perez-Cruz each face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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