A Mexican national, Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, 39, has admitted guilt to charges stemming from a human smuggling operation earlier this year. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the plea from Brownsville, Texas.
Ramirez-Carranza, from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, confessed to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States. He also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry and possession of a firearm as an alien. Issac Azuara-Vasquez, another Mexican citizen aged 39, entered his plea on April 10 for similar smuggling-related offenses and selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza.
The incident occurred on February 12 when authorities observed suspicious activity near the Rio Grande River—a known hotspot for smuggling operations. Surveillance detected a boat arriving from Mexico and individuals being instructed in Spanish to run. Law enforcement witnessed several people climbing into a truck bed by the river’s edge.
Azuara-Vasquez was identified as the driver and had brought an AR-15 type firearm to the location. Ramirez-Carranza was seen retrieving the weapon but ignored commands from law enforcement to stop and drop it.
Investigations revealed that Ramirez-Carranza acted as a river guide in collaboration with Azuara-Vasquez to smuggle individuals across the border. One person stated that Ramirez-Carranza transported him over the Rio Grande by boat with relatives paying for his passage into the U.S.
Ramirez-Carranza has prior felony convictions for unauthorized vehicle use and illegal reentry after deportation; he was last removed from the U.S. in September 2009.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei remarked on the gravity of combining human smuggling with firearms: “The only thing worse than engaging in human smuggling is bringing along a weapon to facilitate your operation.” He emphasized that fortunately no harm came from this plan due to timely intervention.
Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera—Azuara-Vasquez on July 2 and Ramirez-Carranza on July 30. Both face up to ten years imprisonment for transportation charges and fifteen years for firearms offenses; additionally, Ramirez-Carranza could receive another ten years for illegal reentry. Each conviction carries potential fines up to $250,000.
Both men remain in custody awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection with assistance from the FBI and Cameron County Sheriff’s Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators through coordinated efforts like Project Safe Neighborhoods.