Three Fort Cavazos Soldiers Arrested in Human Smuggling Conspiracy After Border Incident

Three soldiers from Fort Cavazos have been arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens, announced U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent initiated a vehicle stop in Presidio on November 27, but the vehicle fled as the agent approached, striking a second USBP vehicle and injuring an agent inside. After a brief pursuit, Presidio County deputies and local police officers stopped the vehicle and apprehended four individuals, including three undocumented noncitizens—a Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals.

Emilio Mendoza Lopez, the front-seat passenger in the vehicle, was arrested at the scene, while the driver, identified as Angel Palma, fled on foot. Palma was located the following day at a hotel in Odessa. Mendoza Lopez and Palma are alleged to have traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio to pick up and transport the undocumented individuals.

A third individual, Enrique Jauregui, is accused of being the recruiter and facilitator of the smuggling operation. Data extracted from Palma’s phone revealed messages between the three soldiers, showing their collaboration in the scheme.

Mendoza Lopez made his initial appearance on December 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin and faces one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Palma and Jauregui were arrested on December 3 at Fort Cavazos and will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske on December 6. They are each charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens, and one count of assaulting a federal agent.

The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case.