A Mexican national has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in a human smuggling operation and firearms offenses, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, 38, of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty on May 8 to charges that included transporting and bringing an alien into the United States, illegal reentry after deportation, and being an alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera handed down a 60-month sentence. Ramirez-Carranza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
During sentencing, the court applied enhancements due to Ramirez-Carranza’s role in organizing the smuggling event, brandishing a firearm, and creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Another individual involved in the case, Issac Azuara-Vasquez, 40, also a Mexican citizen, previously pleaded guilty on April 10 to similar smuggling-related charges as well as selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza. He was sentenced earlier to 54 months in prison and may lose his lawful permanent resident status and face removal proceedings. Sentencing enhancements were also applied for brandishing a firearm and recklessly endangering others.
The incident occurred on February 12 when authorities were conducting surveillance along the border near the Rio Grande River—a location known for frequent alien, drug, and weapon smuggling activity. Agents heard a boat crossing from Mexico and observed Azuara-Vasquez driving a truck toward the riverbank. Several individuals ran from nearby brush into the truck bed after hearing instructions shouted in Spanish.
Ramirez-Carranza was seen retrieving an AR-15-type rifle from the vehicle and running toward the rear of the truck bed while ignoring commands from law enforcement officers.
Investigators determined that Ramirez-Carranza acted as a river guide during this event and conspired with Azuara-Vasquez to transport people across the border illegally. One person who was apprehended stated that Ramirez-Carranza had ferried him across by boat with payment arranged by relatives.
Ramirez-Carranza has prior felony convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and illegal reentry after deportation; he was last removed from the United States in September 2009.
Both men remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.
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.
According to officials, this prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration activities involving cartels and transnational criminal organizations while seeking to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
