Illegal alien indicted in south Texas for smuggling $109,000, gun and ammunition

LAREDO, Texas — An illegal alien from Mexico was indicted Thursday for attempting to smuggle to Mexico more than $109,000, a pistol and ammunition.

This indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Jesus Roldan Rubio, of Puebla, Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint Jan. 20. He was indicted Feb. 3 and on Feb. 12 he made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.

According to court documents, HSI arrested Rubio, 46, Jan. 16. Court documents allege he was attempting to exit the U.S. via the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge driving a 2012 Chrysler. At that time, he had advised CBP officers that he had no monetary instruments or cash exceeding $10,000, no weapons and no ammunition.

However, he was referred to secondary inspection during which time an X-ray inspection discovered anomalies to the vehicle’s battery. A visual inspection confirmed the battery itself had been replaced with a counterfeit battery composed of a small motorcycle battery surrounded by a battery case containing packages containing $109,270, a semi-automatic pistol and 100 rounds of pistol ammunition.

If convicted, Rubio faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Jose Homero Ramirez and Mary Ellen Smyth, Southern District of Texas, are prosecuting this case.

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