Quick Conviction in Federal Court
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –In a swift and decisive ruling, the Corpus Christi Federal Court found 28-year-old Alberto Chavez Jr. of Sullivan City, Texas, guilty of transporting two undocumented immigrants within the United States. The conviction came after a one-day trial and less than 45 minutes of jury deliberation.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the verdict, emphasizing the jury’s quick and confident decision. Chavez was convicted on two counts of illegally transporting non-citizens for financial gain or personal benefit.
Checkpoint Encounter Unravels Chavez’s Story
The incident unfolded on November 2, 2024, when Chavez approached the Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias. He claimed his two passengers were cousins travelling with him to seek work in northern Texas. However, this narrative quickly crumbled under scrutiny.
Testimony revealed the two passengers were not related to Chavez but were, in fact, citizens of Honduras who had entered the United States illegally. Both men testified in court, recounting their journey across the Rio Grande River roughly a month before their arrest.
Smuggling Scheme Exposed
The two Honduran nationals described how they had been shuffled between various stash houses after crossing the border. The night before their checkpoint stop, Chavez picked them up and provided new clothing to make them appear more American. According to their statements, Chavez coached them on answering immigration questions to avoid detection.
Furthermore, both individuals made it clear that they informed Chavez of their illegal status before the ride. This directly contradicted the defense’s claim that Chavez had innocently agreed to offer a ride without full knowledge of their situation.
Prosecutors and Jury See Through the Defense
The defense argued that Chavez had no intention of breaking the law and was giving a ride to individuals he believed were legally in the country. However, the Corpus Christi Federal Court jury rejected that claim, siding with prosecutors Joseph Griffith and Zachary Bird, who presented a strong case backed by clear testimony and solid evidence.
“This verdict sends a strong message,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. “Trying to lie your way past a Border Patrol checkpoint is a one-way ticket to federal prison. I commend the jury for their attentiveness and thank our law enforcement partners for their thorough investigation.”
Sentencing Set for June
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales, who presided over the trial, has scheduled Chavez’s sentencing for June 18. Chavez now faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Initially released on bond, he has since been remanded into custody pending sentencing.
The investigation was led by U.S. Border Patrol, whose agents were instrumental in uncovering the smuggling attempt. The prosecution emphasized that this case is part of a broader effort to dismantle human smuggling operations across South Texas.