FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Three Fort Cavazos soldiers have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to smuggle "undocumented noncitizens", according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office (USDA), Western District.
According to court documents, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent tried to stop a vehicle in Presidio, Texas on Nov. 27, but the vehicle drove away, hitting a second Border Patrol vehicle and injuring an agent inside.
Presidio County Deputies and Police reportedly stopped the vehicle and arrested four people, three of whom the District Attorney's Office said were undocumented noncitizens, one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals.
The USDA's Office identified the fourth person as Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who they say claimed to be the front seat passenger in the vehicle. The driver, alleged to be Angel Palma, fled on foot and was found the next day at a hotel in Odessa, said the District Attorney's Office.
The District Attorney's Office said Mendoza Lopez and Palma are alleged to have traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens. A third person, identified as Enrique Jauregui, is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the conspiracy.
Data from Palma's phone obtained through a search warrant reportedly revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating "collaboration" in the smuggling operation, said the USDA's Office.
Mendoza Lopez reportedly appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin in Alpine on Dec. 2 and is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Palma and Jauregui are charged in a separate criminal complaint with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens and one count of assaulting a federal agent, said the District Attorney's Office. Their initial appearance hearings are scheduled for Dec. 6 in Waco at 10 a.m..
A federal district court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, said the District Attorney's Office.
The Fort Cavazos Public Affairs Office sent 6 News the following statement:
"We are aware of the arrest of three Fort Cavazos Soldiers. III Armored Corps will continue to cooperate with all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Any additional questions should be directed to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division at CIDPAO@army.mil."
Fort Cavazos confirmed all three soldiers are assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Spc. Angel Palma is an infantryman (11B) from McFarland, California, Pfc. Enrique Jauregui is a Stryker systems maintainer (91S) from Tacoma, Washington and Pfc. Emilio Mendoza Lopez is a wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B) from Bensenville, Illinois, said Fort Cavazos.