Laredo, Texas – Three National Guardsmen assigned to the Texas-Mexico border were accused of running an immigrant smuggling ring after 24 immigrants were found inside a van one of them was driving, a U.S. attorney said Monday.
The three, arrested late Thursday and Friday, were arraigned Monday on the federal charge of conspiring to transport illegal immigrants.
Pfc. Jose Rodrigo Torres, 26, and Sgt. Julio Cesar Pacheco, 25, both of Laredo, and Sgt. Clarence Hodge Jr., 36, of Fort Worth were arrested.
A Border Patrol agent found 24 illegal immigrants in a van Torres, in uniform, was driving Thursday along Interstate 35 near Cotulla, about 68 miles north of the border, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Prosecutors say Hodge helped Torres pass a Border Patrol checkpoint on the highway by making it appear they were conducting Guard business.
Both are assigned to Operation Jump Start, President Bush’s initiative to place Guard troops at the border to help local and federal authorities with immigration enforcement. All the soldiers volunteer for the border initiative.
Pacheco was accused of recruiting soldiers to transport the immigrants for $1,000 to $3,500 a trip. He and Hodge were arrested Friday.
No information was available on the 24 immigrants.
Prosecutors say the soldiers participated in several smuggling trips before the arrests.
The soldiers are being held by civilian authorities on $75,000 bail. Military officials will determine whether the men will be charged under military justice as well, according to a statement issued by the Texas National Guard.
