Two South Texas gang members have been sentenced for human smuggling after a series of high-speed chases at the border involving one of the gang members hitting his car into Rio Grande and swimming to Mexico to escape.
Two human smugglers, Juan Miguel Regalado, 28, and Samuel Grajeda Jr, 21, said Monday's statement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Two people were sentenced on May 15 after being convicted of conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants after investigations by ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
U.S. District Judge John Kazen sentenced Regalado to 66 months in prison, while Grajeda was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison and six months in a row for violating the supervision clause of his previous foreign transport conviction. Both must also serve three years of supervision release.
Both admitted to being involved in a human smuggling plot.
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Two South Texas gang members were sentenced for smuggling after a series of high-speed chases at the border, where one of the gang members crashed his car into Rio Grande and swam to Mexico to escape.
According to an ICE statement, the investigation began on April 20, 2024, when a group of suspected illegal foreigners entered the Green Tahoe in the border area north of Laredo, Texas.
Regalado was driving and leading law enforcement in a high-speed chase, during which time “multiple people jumped out of the vehicle.” The statement said.
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Regalado drives 100 miles per hour, hits Tahoe into Rio Grande, and escapes by swimming on the river to Mexico.
Authorities continue to monitor the area in the coming months. In November 2024, another group of illegal foreigners entered the White Ford Taurus parked in the area. Authorities followed the vehicle until another vehicle, Black Mercedes, cutting it off. Ice said the two cars were driven by Grajeda and Regalado.
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Rio Grande viewed from September 19, 2020, Laredo, Texas, USA. Picture taken on September 19, 2020. (Reuters/Veronica G. Cardenas)
Traffic parking in Ford Taurus led to another vehicle hunt, and Grajda hit the bystander's vehicle. Law enforcement eventually discovered the abandoned Ford Taurus near North Laredo. Authorities then found four illegal foreigners, Grajda and Regalado, near abandoned vehicles.
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Both gang members are currently in custody.
"These judgments reflect the serious consequences of waiting for those engaged in human smuggling and endangering public safety," said Craig Larrabee, an agent of the San Antonio, an ICE Homeland Security Investigation.
"Tango explosion gang members put countless lives at risk during these reckless pursuits," Larabe said, "through strong collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to demolishing violent crime organizations and protecting our communities."