A 34-year-old man, Cesar Rafael Leon of Pharr, has been taken into federal custody after allegedly crashing into a law enforcement vehicle during a suspected human smuggling attempt in the Rio Grande Valley. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Leon, who was already in custody on related charges, is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker.
According to the complaint, Leon picked up five individuals who had crossed the Rio Grande River by raft in Mercedes. Law enforcement attempted to stop his vehicle, but he did not yield. Officers deployed a vehicle immobilization device, but Leon continued driving and struck a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit while traveling the wrong way down the highway.
The pursuit lasted about 15 minutes and ended at a shopping plaza in Weslaco. After a brief foot chase, law enforcement apprehended Leon and took the five individuals into custody.
“As this office has stated on numerous prior occasions, human smugglers do not care about the lives or safety of those they transport. The people being smuggled are nothing more than cargo to these predators,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas urges all those who would consider placing themselves or their loved ones into the hands of these criminals to think twice. Stay home, stay safe.”
Leon faces smuggling charges that include an enhancement for putting lives in danger. If convicted, he could receive up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by Border Patrol with assistance from Texas DPS, Hidalgo County Constables Office, and Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative that uses resources from multiple Department of Justice programs to address illegal immigration and related criminal activity.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
