Home San Antonio Press Releases 2011 Eight Arrested in Austin-Based Undocumented Alien Smuggling Operation
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Eight Arrested in Austin-Based Undocumented Alien Smuggling Operation

U.S. Attorney’s Office April 08, 2011
  • Western District of Texas (210) 384-7100

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced the indictment and arrests of eight individuals charged in connection with an Austin-based undocumented alien smuggling operation.

Those arrested in Austin this week include: 30-year-old Romulo Adan Garcia-Ipina; his brother, 28-year-old Joel Garcia-Ipina; 39-year-old Gerardo Vazques-Cruz; 31-year-old Jesus Tello-Torres; 25-year-old Mayra Elizabeth Alaniz; and 28-year-old Tony Garcia. Authorities this week also arrested 26-year-old Mariano Delacruz in San Antonio and 40-year-old Rosa Nelia Alaniz in Laredo. Prior to these arrests, 35-year-old Mary Cruz Gutierrez-San Miguel of Austin was already in custody on a separate matter. The alleged ringleader and brother of Romulo and Joel Garcia-Ipina, 34-year-old Jose Israel Garcia, remains a fugitive.

The indictment, returned on March 15, 2011, and unsealed yesterday afternoon, charges the above-named defendants with one count of conspiracy to bring in and transport undocumented aliens. Allegedly, the defendants, under the direction of the Garcia brothers, have conspired since at least November 2008, to smuggle more than 100 undocumented aliens from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico into Laredo, Texas and subsequently transport them to the Austin area.

The indictment also contains a notice of criminal forfeiture whereby the government is seeking to forfeit property in Caldwell County allegedly purchased by Jose Garcia with proceeds from the alleged criminal activity.

Each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine upon conviction. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Austin Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), San Antonio Police Department, and the Laredo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Garth Backe and Douglas Gardner are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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