SDTX exceeds 20,000 charged as 480 more cases filed in ongoing border security enforcement efforts

HOUSTON - Since the implementation of Operation Tack Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed a total of 20,069 cases against 20,374 individuals in immigration and related matters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Among those, are 484 people charged between April 17-23: 175 for illegal entry, 275 for felony reentry after removal, 33 in human smuggling cases and another one for an immigration-related crime. Many have prior convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, other immigration violations and more.

One illegal alien charged this week has a prior conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly found Mexican national Fernando Flores-Bautista near Roma, despite having been removed March 29.

Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Carlos Guadalupe Aquino-Pacheco. According to the complaint, authorities encountered him while conducting a traffic stop near McAllen. Court documents allege he has a prior conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence. Aquino-Pacheco was previously removed Oct. 4, 2023, according to the charges.

Two others also charged with felony reentry after prior removal include Mexican nationals Dionicio Rodriguez-Hernandez and Francisco Javier Velasquez-Vela, found near Hidalgo and Roma, respectively. The complaints allege they have previous convictions such as transporting/harboring aliens, illegal reentry and/or aggravated burglary.

All four face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

In addition to the new cases, eight members of Mara Salvatrucha aka MS-13 have now received federal prison sentences ranging from 35-50 years for their respective roles in a racketeering conspiracy involving witness tampering and multiple murders, including victims as young as 14. They admitted involvement in killings ordered by MS-13 leadership in El Salvador. Members targeted rival gang members, perceived cooperators and others to maintain or elevate their rank within the organization. Following the killings, they provided photographic proof to leadership, sometimes further mutilating victims to demonstrate compliance.

Also of note this week, Roma resident Lizandro Monroy was ordered to serve 37 months in federal prison for using a minor in a human smuggling scheme. The court noted similarities to his prior convictions, including involvement in pursuits. Authorities observed a raft crossing near a known human smuggling pickup location in June 2025. Monroy had directed a 15-year-old to pick up three aliens before fleeing from a traffic stop, leading to a pursuit and crash that injured one individual. Monroy recruited and paid the minor, provided the route and supplied a phone to receive instructions.

The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.