HSI RGV, Federal partners investigation results in the sentencing of a South Texas man for a deadly human smuggling event

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A South Texas man was sentenced for conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens, resulting in multiple deaths, following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in collaboration with U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations; police departments in Port Mansfield and South Padre Island; Texas Rangers; Texas Game Wardens; sheriff’s offices in Kenedy, Duval, and Willacy Counties; and the Willacy County District Attorney’s Office.

Jose Refugio Torres, 28, from Roma, Texas, was sentenced on Feb. 5 by U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera to serve 36 months in prison, immediately followed by one year of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of human smuggling involving death and admonished Torres that should he ever return to the smuggling business, he could be facing potential life in federal prison. Torres pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2023.

“HSI is dedicated to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of citizens across all communities in the United States,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “We will remain focused on investigating and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that jeopardize the well-being of individuals.”

“As this case sadly demonstrates, human smuggling is a crime that takes lives and puts the public at risk,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Nicolas J. Ganjei. “Securing the border is the Southern District of Texas’ number one priority, and breaking up these smuggling rings is a key component of that. We will continue to use all available resources to aggressively pursue those who flout our immigration laws and put profit ahead of human lives.”

According to court documents, Torres was involved in the attempted smuggling of illegal aliens in March 2019 by motor vehicle from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations within the United States. During this failed attempt in Duval County, a vehicle rolled over and caused the deaths of four people and serious injuries to six others.

The victims included citizens of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ecuador, as well as a 17-year-old boy from Ecuador.

Torres was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons, the specific facility will be determined at a later date.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose E. Arreola Jr. and Jose Esquivel Jr. from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.