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Date: 02-08-2024
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Court: The United States Court for the Western District of Texas
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for San Antonio
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Brown prosecuted the case.
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Description:
A Kaufman man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 97 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport undocumented noncitizens.
According to court documents, Fredi Zagala-Servin, 40, was a longtime leader and organizer of a human smuggling organization (HSO) that smuggled hundreds of undocumented noncitizens from Laredo to San Antonio inside tractor trailers. He would speak with a co-conspirator in Mexico and provide another co-conspirator with pick-up locations for the drivers to load migrants into the tractor trailers in Laredo. He would then monitor the load throughout the transport and relay updates between the parties. Zagala-Servin was involved in the coordination of at least 10 human smuggling events for financial gain with the HSO. He was arrested June 23, 2022 and has remained in federal custody.
In May 2021, the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division began investigating the criminal activity of the HSO. HSI was able to link at least 19 human smuggling events involving the actual apprehension of more than 900 aliens to the HSO. Between May 2021 and June 2022, HSI interdicted nine of the HSO's tractor trailers carrying smuggled noncitizens. The loads ranged from approximately 30 to more than 100 migrants travelling in a single trailer.
In addition to imprisonment, Zagala-Servin was ordered three years supervised release and a money judgement of $410,250.
“This human smuggling organization put the lives of hundreds of migrants in jeopardy by transporting them across south Texas in tractor trailers,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “It is important that people like this defendant, who endanger those lives for profit, are held accountable by our justice system. I commend our partners at HSI and all of Joint Task Force Alpha for their investigative skills and their tireless efforts to uncover this criminal conspiracy.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to those thinking of engaging in human smuggling activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the HSI San Antonio Division. “HSI and our law enforcement partners take an aggressive stance against human smuggling, and we will continue to work together to investigate and ultimately dismantle these criminal organizations.”
HSI and JTFA investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Brown prosecuted the case.
These charges resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is part of the JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support is also provided by numerous components of the Criminal Division that are part of JTFA, led by HRSP, and supported by ODPAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 270 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 210 convictions; significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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