ALBUQUERQUE – A U.S. Magistrate Judge sitting in Las Cruces, N.M., today found probable cause to support a criminal complaint charging Jose Alberto Garcia, 19, of El Paso, Texas, with conspiring to transport illegal aliens within the United States. During today’s proceedings, Garcia was ordered detained pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Garcia on July 11, 2018, on the offense of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States. According to the criminal complaint, the U.S. Border Patrol allegedly found 12 illegal aliens in Garcia’s vehicle on July 11, 2018, while conducting an inspection at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 25 north of Las Cruces. Garcia allegedly was being paid to transport the 12 illegal aliens to Albuquerque, N.M.
If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Garcia faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
Information from Department of Justice