A truck driver from Alamo has admitted to human smuggling charges, as reported by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The incident occurred on December 13, 2024, when Eusebio Cavazos drove a tractor-trailer into the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita. During the initial inspection, a K-9 unit indicated potential human presence in the trailer.
Upon further investigation at secondary inspection, authorities discovered 36 individuals in the trailer. These individuals included 15 from Guatemala, 10 from Honduras, eight from Mexico, and three from El Salvador. All were found to be illegally present in the United States, with five having previously been removed and now facing charges for illegal re-entry.
Cavazos confessed that he had been hired to transport these individuals from near Donna to Houston and expected to receive $1,000 per person transported.
"As we have unfortunately seen in prior instances, smuggling of people via a tractor trailer is extremely dangerous and can lead to mass casualties," said Ganjei. "As the Department of Justice works to secure the border and bring down demand for smugglers, we simultaneously expect to see a decrease in the number of people transported through such means."
Sentencing will be imposed by U.S. District Judge David Morales on May 15. Cavazos could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains in custody until sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuting the case.