Federal jury convicts Houston man of transporting, harboring illegal aliens
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A federal jury in Corpus Christi returned a guilty verdict Thursday against a Houston man on one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens following a two-day trial, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol as part of the South Texas Campaign.
Eduardo Luis Pompa, 26, from Houston, Texas, was convicted following a 45-minute jury deliberation. During the trial, evidence established that Pompa served as a scout for an alien smuggling organization. In that role, he drove ahead or behind vehicles transporting illegal aliens to look for law enforcement.
Pompa served in this capacity as scout from early 2014 until July 14, 2014 when he was arrested with nine other conspirators transporting 57 aliens to Houston. Pompa and two others served as scouts, two served as brush guides, and the remaining five transported the 57 aliens in vehicles. Pompa and other conspirators picked up the illegal aliens just north of the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias and were arrested near Mathis, Texas.
“Those responsible for smuggling and harboring illegal aliens place personal profit ahead of public safety and border security,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “This conviction should warn those involved in this dangerous trade that their illegal actions come with a high price.”
The evidence also established that this criminal organization transported multiple loads of illegal aliens on a weekly and even daily basis. For example, on April 23, 2014, a load driver for the organization was arrested transporting five illegal aliens near Premont. That driver attempted to flee by traveling faster than 100 miles per hour; he ultimately crashed into a tree causing serious bodily injuries to the aliens. The evidence established that Pompa was working as a scout that same day, but for another load of transported aliens.
The boss of the alien smuggling organization, Homero Gonzalez-Carranza, 30, also of Houston, pleaded guilty to alien smuggling charges April 27. Gonzalez-Carranza oversaw transporting illegal aliens from the Texas Rio Grande Valley to Houston. Illegal aliens were harbored at stash houses in Houston until ultimately being transported to their final destinations within the United States. Gonzalez-Carranza is set for sentencing July 14.
U.S. District Judge Hayden Head has set Pompa’s sentencing for Aug. 18; he faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad W. Cowan, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
Updated: