2 Mexican men arrested in South Texas and charged with human smuggling

MCALLEN, Texas — Two Mexican men, both illegally living in the United States, were arrested Tuesday on human smuggling charges after federal special agents executed a search warrant on the 6800 block of Bagley Drive in Mission, Texas.

These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol, and Hidalgo County (Texas) Precinct 4 Constables Office.

HSI special agents arrested without incident Jose Antonio Landin-Ortiz, 26, and Jose Alfredo Ortiz-Vega, 45, both from Mexico and living illegally in the United States. On March 23, a U.S. magistrate judge charged both men with human smuggling.  

According to court documents, on March 4, Border Patrol agents at the Falfurrias, Texas, checkpoint found two illegal aliens hidden within the air dam of a tractor trailer that was approaching the primary inspection area. They were arrested for being in the United States unlawfully. At that time, they identified Ortiz and Landin as their smugglers. Ortiz allegedly provided the illegal aliens with a cell phone to use to communicate with him.

Court documents further allege that Ortiz also took them to a truck stop and instructed both to climb into the air dam on the tractor trailer. Landin helped Ortiz with the smuggling arrangements and the aliens stayed at Landin’s house while they were waiting to be smuggled north, according to the allegations.

If convicted, both Landin and Ortiz face up to 10 years imprisonment and possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Leonard, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.