GIs indicted in human smuggling

Posted by P.M. Corn on Jul 4, 2007 • (0)

LAREDO — Three National Guardsmen based here on a mission to help the Border Patrol were indicted Tuesday on five counts of human smuggling and one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Sgt. Julio Cesar Pacheco, Sgt. Clarence Hodge Jr. and Pfc. Jose Rodrigo Torres were arrested last month after Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents discovered 24 undocumented immigrants in an official van driven by Torres.

The three remain in federal custody in lieu of $75,000 bonds.

The accused soldiers communicated through text messages, and, using a National Guard leased van, helped each other pass a Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35 without being inspected, officials said at the time of their arrests.

As part of Operation Jump Start, a border security initiative that sent 6,000 National Guard troops to the border to assist the Border Patrol, all three were assigned to the checkpoint.

Tuesday’s indictment revealed more details.

In a span of 22 days in May and June, the guardsmen allegedly completed seven successful smuggling trips, transporting a total of 88 undocumented immigrants, the indictment states.

On those trips, Torres would allegedly pick up a load of undocumented immigrants at a house in Laredo and drive into the checkpoint through the service lane.

Sometimes Torres would bring a meal to Hodges at the checkpoint, or the two would talk to make it seem like they were on official business, the document states. Then Hodges would allow the van to pass uninspected.

Torres would drop off his human cargo in Cotulla or at a Motel 6 in San Antonio, the indictment states.

Pacheco, a Laredoan who was awarded the Purple Heart last year for injuries suffered in Iraq, coordinated the operations, the document said.

On two occasions, the soldiers allegedly made two smuggling trips in one day.

It was during their eighth and biggest attempt, allegedly with 24 immigrants in the van, that agents pulled Torres over near Cotulla and an investigation began

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