The Southern District of Texas has announced the filing of 281 new cases related to immigration and border security from May 23-29, as part of Operation Take Back America. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei revealed that these cases include charges against 105 individuals for illegally reentering the United States, many with prior felony convictions for various crimes. Additionally, 163 people are charged with illegal entry, while seven cases involve human smuggling.
Among those charged is Carlos Enrique Gonzalez-Pena, accused of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and allegedly visiting darknet sites featuring child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Another case involves Humberto Vasquez, a Mexican national who attempted to exit the U.S. via the Donna Port of Entry with four pistols and ammunition without an export license. He could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
Three Mexican nationals were found near Mission without legal permission to be in the U.S., including Victor Manuel Ornelas-Ochoa, Alfredo Samuel Gallegos-Esquivel, and Exequiel Solano, all previously removed from the country with felonies on their records. They face charges of illegal reentry and could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Julio Sanchez-Lorenzo was also charged after being found near Roma just six days after his removal from Brownsville on May 21.
In Houston, a federal jury convicted Jose Martin Valdez-Galvan for illegally reentering the U.S. under an assumed identity after being found in Laredo on June 11, 2024. “Both public safety and basic common sense require us to know who is entering and residing in our country,” said Ganjei regarding identity theft by foreign nationals.
In Corpus Christi, Honduran national Josias Eliseo Ulloa-Pavon admitted to being an alien illegally possessing a firearm following a DUI crash on February 18.
Two men from Brownfield admitted conspiring to transport illegal aliens after being stopped near Laredo on March 22 with three hidden passengers intended for San Antonio transport.
Juan Humberto Lara Molina received a sentence for illegally reentering the country despite multiple prior removals and criminal history involving drugs and firearms.
These cases are supported by federal law enforcement partners such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), alongside state and local agencies.
Operation Take Back America aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels through resources like Project Safe Neighborhoods under current district leadership prioritizing public safety and border security.
The Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest jurisdictions nationwide covering over nine million people across more than 44 thousand square miles with assistance from Assistant U.S Attorneys working across seven divisions including Houston Galveston Victoria Corpus Christi Brownsville McAllen Laredo coordinating prosecutions at federal state local levels
It should be noted that an indictment or criminal complaint serves as formal accusations not evidence; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process
