Texas gang members sentenced for human smuggling after high-speed border chases

Two South Texas gang members have been sentenced for human smuggling following a series of high-speed chases at the perimeter that involved one of the gang members crashing his car into the Rio Grande and swimming to Mexico to escape A Monday report by U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE explained the two human handlers Juan Miguel Regalado and Samuel Grajeda Jr are members of Puro Tango Blast a local Texas gang The two were sentenced on May after being convicted of conspiracy to transfer undocumented immigrants following an analysis by ICE U S Margin Patrol Laredo Sector and the Texas Department of Population Safety U S District Judge John Kazen imposed a -month sentence for Regalado while Grajeda previously received a -month imprisonment as well as a consecutive six months for violating the terms of his supervised release for a previous alien transporting conviction Both must also serve three years of supervised release Both men admitted to involvement in the human smuggling conspiracy PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR LETS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TEEN OFF EASY AFTER -MPH CRASH THAT KILLED -YEAR-OLD WOMANAccording to the ICE announcement the review began April when a group of suspected illegal aliens entered a green Tahoe in a sector of the edge just north of Laredo Texas The report explained that Regalado was driving and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase during which multiple individuals jumped out of the car CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGEDriving up to miles per hour Regalado crashed the Tahoe into the Rio Grande and then proceeded to escape by swimming across the river to Mexico Executives continued to monitor the area over the next several months In November another group of illegal aliens entered a white Ford Taurus parked in the area Administration followed the automobile until another van a black Mercedes cut them off ICE declared that the two vehicles were driven by Grajeda and Regalado DEM'S IMMIGRATION REVISION PLAN ADDS CONFINES PATROL AGENTS OFFERS SELECT DISPLACED PERSONS PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIPA traffic stop of the Ford Taurus led to another bicycle pursuit in which Grajeda crashed into a bystander s car Law enforcement eventually discovered the Ford Taurus abandoned in a north Laredo neighborhood Bureaucrats then uncovered four illegal aliens and Grajeda and Regalado within the vicinity of the abandoned automobile Both gang members are presently in custody Craig Larrabee ICE Homeland Prevention Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge mentioned that these sentences reflect the serious consequences awaiting those who engage in human smuggling and endanger inhabitants safety Larrabee declared that Tango Blast gang members put countless lives at vulnerability during these reckless pursuits and that through strong collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners we remain committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations and protecting our communities