South Texas federal jury convicts alien smuggling ringleader; faces up to life in prison at sentencing

DEL RIO, Texas — A federal jury Thursday convicted the leader of a south Texas alien smuggling ring that tortured victims while waiting for ransom payments.

This conviction was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin Jr., Western District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge James Spero of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Dimmit County (Texas) Sheriff Marion Boyd.

As a result of the April 23 verdict, Eduardo Rocha Sr., aka “Lalo,” 44, faces the following possible sentence:

• up to 20 years in prison each for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens involving serious bodily injury and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens involving serious bodily injury;
• up to 20 years in prison on each of three separate counts of harboring an illegal alien involving serious bodily injury; and
• up to life in prison on each of two counts of conspiracy to commit hostage taking.

Rocha’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14.

Evidence presented during trial revealed that Rocha Sr. operated his smuggling cell between Carrizo Springs, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico since at least 2013. Rocha Sr. claimed to be affiliated with Los Zetas, a transnational drug trafficking organization operating out of Mexico. Members of Rocha Sr.’s cell used buildings located at Rocha’s Carrizo Springs property to hold the illegal aliens before they were transported further into the United States. Witnesses testified that Rocha held the aliens against their will in an effort to extort more money from family members in the United States.

Evidence also revealed that Rocha ordered his accomplices to torture the illegal aliens being held captive in an effort to extort money. A female was raped multiple times, and family members were made to listen over the telephone as aliens were tortured with a hammer, and threatened with decapitation and mutilation. A family member in Virginia called 911, which prompted a May 4, 2014 rescue operation by Dimmit County Sherriff’s deputies, HSI special agents, and U.S. Border Patrol agents.  Jurors also made a special finding in their verdict that the smuggling offenses each involved serious bodily injury. They also found that Rocha’s Carrizo Springs property should be forfeited to the United States.

Co-conspirators Atanacio Daniel Castro, Eduardo Rocha Jr., Christopher Jones, Tara Cournoyer, and Esmeralda Cruz remain in federal custody. All five have already pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges relating to their involvement in Rocha Sr.’s smuggling operation and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by HSI special agents based in Eagle Pass, Texas, with the support of the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s criminal laboratory.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Watters and Patrick Burke, Western District of Texas.