Texas man charged for smuggling 107 noncitizens inside trailer following ICE HSI, federal partner investigation

LAREDO, Texas - A southern Texas man was indicted Tuesday for conspiring to transport over 100 non-U.S. citizens, following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol (USBP).

On April 19, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Daniel Chavez, 29, from Elkhart, Texas. He was originally charged by criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, on March 30, Chavez arrived at the USBP checkpoint on I-35 while driving a tractor trailer. At inspection, a K-9 allegedly alerted authorities to the trailer. Law enforcement opened it found 107 individuals later determined to be as noncitizens.

If convicted, Chavez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

HSI encourages you to report suspicious activity, you are urged to call 1-866-348-2423.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.