Three soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas have been arrested on charges related to human smuggling activities along the US-Mexico border, according to US Attorney Jaime Esparza.
The arrests came after law enforcement stopped a vehicle on November 27 in Presidio, Texas, roughly 500 miles southwest of Dallas. The vehicle, allegedly driven by soldier Angel Palma, 20, was carrying fellow soldier Emilio Mendoza Lopez along with one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals.
According to prosecutors, Mendoza Lopez and Palma had traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio specifically to transport undocumented individuals. A third soldier, Enrique Jauregui, 25, is accused of recruiting the others and coordinating the smuggling operation. Messages discovered on Palma's phone through a search warrant revealed communication between all three soldiers about the illegal operation.
Mendoza Lopez was taken into custody during the traffic stop, while Palma initially fled the scene. Both Palma and Jauregui were later arrested on Tuesday at Fort Cavazos.
Mendoza Lopez remains in jail without bail. His attorney, Shane Chriesman, stated he is waiting for additional case information from prosecutors before developing a defense strategy and seeking bond. Palma and Jauregui are scheduled for their first court appearance on Friday. Court records do not yet list attorneys for either soldier.
Military officials at Fort Cavazos have not yet commented on the case or any potential disciplinary action against the soldiers. The ranks of the three arrested servicemembers have not been disclosed.
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