Thread: Indicted agent held for bond hearing

Indicted agent held for bond hearing
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


Huizar A federal court set a detention and bond hearing May 19 for an El Paso sector Border Patrol agent who was indicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants.
Agent Jesus M. Huizar, 28, remained in custody Thursday at the El Paso County Jail, after federal officials announced the indictment against him and two others.

Huizar pleaded innocent to the charges. His lawyer, Luis Islas, declined to comment Thursday.

Federal prosecutors filed motions requesting that the three suspects be held without bond.

The indictment against Huizar, a five-year Border Patrol veteran and a naturalized U.S. citizen, alleges he and Mexican citizens Emeterio Sigala-Favela, 37, and Luis Carlos Chacon-Rubio, 32, worked with "the Jurado alien smuggling organization," which "established a network of smugglers and transporters, including local and interior transporters, safe house operators, border crossing guides and brokers of safe passage."

Beginning in 2005, the network allegedly used Huizar to facilitate the transportation of undocumented immigrants through Border Patrol checkpoints in New Mexico along Interstate 25 and New Mexico State Highway 185.

The organization charged undocumented immigrants a fee to enter the United States illegally. At various times, the undocumented immigrants who had entered the United States from Mexico stayed at a "stash house" or a hotel.

"One stash house is located at 9072 Geranium, El Paso, Texas, and is owned by



Jesus Miguel Huizar," the indictment states.
Court records further allege that many bank deposits, ranging from $750 to $4,600, were made to a Wells Fargo bank account for helping to smuggle people. And a cell phone with a local number was used to coordinate the safe passage of undocumented immigrants through Border Patrol checkpoints, while different rented vehicles were used to transport them.

On March 16 at a Ramada Inn in El Paso, authorities detained three undocumented immigrants whom the network allegedly was smuggling. After that, the indictment alleges, more undocumented immigrants stayed at the house on Geranium and at a home in the 300 block of Ronquillo in El Paso before they were transported into the interior.

On separate occasions, the indictment also states, someone, whose name was left out of the court document,"was holding" "Benito" and later "Juan" until the smuggling fee was paid.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.




http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9276128

Indicted border agent in El Paso ordered held without bond

Associated Press - May 19, 2008 7:15 PM ET

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - A judge in El Paso today denied bond for a Border Patrol agent accused of helping smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border.

Twenty-8-year-old Jesus M. Huizar appeared in federal court, where a magistrate determined he's a flight risk and should remain in custody -- pending trial.

Huizar was indicted last month on charges of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and money laundering.

Prosecutors say Huizar was part of a ring -- working with Mexican nationals -- to smuggle at least 100 illegal immigrants across the border since 2005.

The feds say Huizar was paid to allow smugglers to ferry illegal immigrants through a checkpoint in New Mexico. His El Paso home was allegedly used as a safe house for illegal immigrants.

Defense attorney Luis E. Islas had no comment.

If convicted, Huizar faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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