Homeland Security Task Force Investigation in El Paso Charges 13 for Allegedly Transporting Stolen Vehicles from U.S. to Cartels in Mexico

EL PASO, Texas - Thirteen individuals are facing federal charges in El Paso for allegedly transporting stolen vehicles from the U.S. into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

Simmons hosted a press conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office in El Paso today to make the announcement, along with law enforcement officials from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Also at the press conference were officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the El Paso Police Department. Together, the agencies unite as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

The investigation, named Operation Southbound Takedown, began in Spring of 2026 when federal agents and prosecutors noticed an ongoing trend of stolen privately owned vehicles and rental vehicles allegedly being transported to individuals belonging to various criminal organizations in Mexico. Prosecutors allege that in many cases, vehicles were stolen from individual owners or from major rental car companies across the southwestern United States, driven to El Paso, and delivered across the border into Mexico. Those vehicles were then allegedly used to facilitate the daily business of Mexican cartels, now designated as terrorist organizations.

During this investigation, 29 vehicles, valued at approximately $1,137,000, have been recovered. The scope of the investigation spans throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

One defendant, U.S. citizen Kimberly Aguilar, was indicted on March 25. She is currently in state custody, as is U.S. citizen Marty Gerardo Jr., who was indicted on July 22.

Eleven more defendants have been federally indicted and arrested between July 22 and Oct. 19. Of those 11, nine are U.S. citizens:

• David Monarrez (Case no. EP-26-CR-01818-DB)
• Cesar David Diaz (Case no. EP-26-CR-02040-KC)
• Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez (Case no. EP-26-CR-02040-KC)
• Christopher Rene Reyes (Case no. EP-26-CR-1990-LS)
• Angel Antonio Flores (Case no. EP-26-CR-02172-LS)
• Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans (Case no. EP-26-CR-2389-KC)
• Amy Foote (Case no. EP-26-CR-02512-KC)
• James Dewey Garrett (Case no. EP-26-MJ-5207-MAT)
• Hilario Abraham Morales (Case no. EP-26-MJ-5208-MAT)

Two defendants are Mexican citizens:

• Pablo Frias (Case no. EP-26-CR-02627-DB) - Legal Permanent Resident Card
• Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas (Case no. EP-26-CR-02626-KC) - Border Crossing Card

"To anyone considering transporting stolen vehicles into Mexico: do not do it," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. These organizations that solicit your assistance are using your desire for a quick buck to expand their criminal operations, criminal operations which include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, and even murder. You are now on notice. If you provide support to these cartels, many of which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, by transporting stolen vehicles out of this country and into Mexico, we will find you, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

"These are not isolated property crimes. The stolen vehicles related to Operation Southbound Takedown demonstrate an alarming pattern and are used to support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations," said Ryan G. McRae, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. "The scope of this investigation extends across the U.S. and Mexico, and it's taken the alliance of federal, state, local, and private-sector partners under the umbrella of the Homeland Security Task Force to disrupt a vehicle-theft and transportation network. This work is ongoing; we're not stopping here. Together we will continue to protect citizens in other U.S. cities, and our border community from these devious criminal networks threatening our safety and our property."

"The FBI is committed to protecting our communities through strong partnerships, close collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private sector companies and proactive, aggressive investigations" said Coult W. Markovsky, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. "To individuals assisting the cartels, Justice will find you!"

The 13 defendants are each charged with interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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