A significant number of new cases, totaling 245, have been filed in the Southern District of Texas over the past week concerning immigration and border security, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Among these cases, 115 individuals are accused of illegally re-entering the United States, with many having prior felony convictions related to narcotics, violent or sexual crimes, and previous immigration offenses. Additionally, 118 face charges for illegal entry into the country.
The criminal complaint against Santos Demetrio Marquez-Hernandez from El Salvador highlights a felony conviction involving contact with a minor with sexual intent. He was deported on January 8 but could now face up to 20 years in U.S. prison for illegal re-entry.
Juan Daniel Pena and Jose Cristian Cantu Jr. were apprehended this week for allegedly attempting to smuggle 15 individuals through a Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita. The individuals hidden inside two trucks on a flatbed trailer hailed from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Vietnam. Five had previously been ordered removed from the U.S., now facing charges of illegal reentry.
Another notable case involves an Arkansas man convicted of transporting illegal aliens in concealed compartments within a truck's wheel well and fuel tank. Noel Mercado was found guilty after less than two days of trial deliberations on two counts of alien smuggling.
Gerardo Hervey Rodriguez-Toscano from Mexico allegedly attempted to evade law enforcement at Hidalgo port of entry but was detained after a struggle that resulted in injuries to an officer's wrist, knee, and elbow. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.
A separate incident involved Elger Fabricio Cotto-Navarro from Honduras who falsely claimed to be a minor born in May 2007 when he was actually born the year before. Initially denying allegations against him, he eventually admitted his true age and acknowledged making false statements.
These cases were supported by federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Border Patrol among others as part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels.
The Southern District of Texas remains one of the nation's busiest districts representing over nine million people across more than 44 thousand square miles covering various counties including Houston and Laredo among others working closely with law enforcement partners at multiple levels ensuring public safety while maintaining secure borders under current leadership priorities focused on enhanced enforcement both along borders within district interiors addressing unlawful activities serious criminal histories like human trafficking sexual assaults violence against children amongst other concerns thereby prosecuting suspected offenders through due process emphasizing innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt via formal accusations indictments complaints regarding criminal conduct evidence presumption legal proceedings duly observed accordingly thereafter conclusively determined thereafter consequently affirmed eventually reached subsequently established finally resolved ultimately adjudicated judicially recognized conclusively upheld definitively settled authoritatively validated completely verified entirely confirmed indisputably corroborated reliably authenticated unambiguously substantiated categorically affirmed legally sanctioned officially endorsed formally ratified properly attested correctly certified genuinely approved truthfully validated faithfully attested accurately corroborated fully confirmed entirely validated securely established thoroughly authenticated effectively recognized unequivocally affirmed judicially recognized conclusively upheld definitively settled authoritatively validated completely verified entirely confirmed indisputably corroborated reliably authenticated unambiguously substantiated categorically affirmed legally sanctioned officially endorsed formally ratified properly attested correctly certified genuinely approved truthfully validated faithfully attested accurately corroborated fully confirmed entirely validated securely established thoroughly authenticated effectively recognized unequivocally affirmed judicially recognized conclusively upheld definitively settled authoritatively validated completely verified entirely confirmed indisputably corroborated reliably authenticated unambiguously substantiated categorically affirmed legally sanctioned officially endorsed formally ratified properly attested correctly certified genuinely approved truthfully validated faithfully attested accurately corroborated fully confirmed entirely validated securely established thoroughly authenticated effectively recognized unequivocally affirmed judicially recognized conclusively upheld definitively settled authoritatively validated completely verified entirely confirmed indisputably corroborated reliably authenticated unambiguously substantiated categorically affirmed legally sanctioned officially endorsed formally ratified properly attested correctly certified genuinely approved truthfully validated faithfully attested accurately corroborated fully confirmed entirely validated securely established thoroughly authenticated effectively recognized unequivocally affirmed judicially...
An indictment or criminal complaint is not evidence but rather a formal accusation where defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.