Federal authorities in the Southern District of Texas have filed 395 cases against 396 individuals for immigration and related offenses between February 27 and March 5, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The charges include allegations of human smuggling involving 23 people, illegal entry by 165 individuals, and felony reentry after prior removal for 206 others. Many of those charged with felony reentry reportedly have previous convictions for crimes such as narcotics violations, violent offenses, and other immigration-related crimes.
Among those facing felony reentry charges are two men with prior assault convictions who were recently removed from the United States. Cuban national Onnis Alvarez Rubio was found near Penitas, while El Salvadorian national Eduardo Neftali Rodriguez-Cubas was located near Havana without authorization to be in the country.
Four Mexican nationals—Francisco Gonzalez-Angeles, Jesus Lerma-Villarreal, Oswaldo Odinez-Garcia, and Mario Alberto Munoz-Garcia—were also charged with felony reentry after prior removal. The complaints state they have past convictions including illegal reentry, transporting or harboring aliens, evading arrest, or multiple counts of driving while intoxicated. Law enforcement found these individuals in McAllen and surrounding areas.
If convicted, all defendants face up to 20 years in prison.
The office also announced that “Operation Pick-Off,” which began in the Rio Grande Valley in August 2025, has expanded to Houston. This initiative targets offenders serving probation or supervision for state crimes while unlawfully residing in the United States.
“Our office created Operation Pick-Off based upon an extremely simple concept—that a state probation sentence should not be a sanctuary from federal immigration laws. Take note, the Southern District of Texas is not a safe harbor for those who enter the United States illegally and commit crimes against our citizens,” said Ganjei. “Now, these offenders, who so brazenly flouted our laws, have earned themselves a jail stay before their one-way flight home. My office promised to bring this targeted operation to every corner of the district. Promise kept.”
In addition to new charges filed this week, MS-13 gang member Ronald Alberto Rivas-Aguilar was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country. In 2016, Rivas conspired with another MS-13 member to murder a rival gang member in Fort Bend County by transporting him to Buffalo Run Park where he was killed by a coconspirator wielding a machete. After being removed to El Salvador following his conviction, Rivas returned illegally.
Two Honduran nationals—Angel Arquimedez Coto-Martinez and Kevin Alexander Bueso-Medina—were also sentenced for unlawful reentry into the United States. Coto-Martinez received a sentence of 38 months; Bueso-Medina received 24 months and has previous convictions including drug-related offenses and repeated illegal entries.
These prosecutions were supported by several federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort using Department of Justice resources aimed at combating illegal immigration and targeting cartels as well as transnational criminal organizations.
According to Ganjei’s office, public safety and border security remain top priorities under current leadership. Increased enforcement efforts have led to arrests involving individuals with histories of serious crimes such as human trafficking or violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas covers more than nine million people across 43 counties within an area spanning approximately 44,000 square miles [source]. The office operates out of locations including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo [source], employing over 200 attorneys [source]. It is part of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Attorney General [source].
Notable former leaders include Alamdar Hamdani (2022–2025) [source] and Ryan Patrick [source].
An indictment or criminal complaint is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
