Press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas
One of two fugitives indicted for her alleged involvement in an alien smuggling operation that resulted in multiple migrants being found dead inside a shipping container in May is now in custody, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced.
According to court documents, Karina Garcia, 37, of Del Rio, made her initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Watters.
Garcia surrendered Sunday at a port of entry in Del Rio following an investigation led by the U.S. Border Patrol
Intelligence Division, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Garcia is alleged to have played a key role in a smuggling operation that spanned approximately three years and used
cargo trains to transport migrants farther into the United States after they illegally crossed from Mexico.
According to federal prosecutors, each person smuggled, or their families and friends, paid smugglers in Honduras, Mexico, the United States and elsewhere between $1,500 and $10,000.
Garcia was indicted in July and charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and one count of aiding and abetting the transport of illegal aliens resulting in death.
If convicted, Garcia faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Eight other defendants were arrested last month during a multi-day Homeland Security Task Force operation across Central and South Texas.
Mayra Alejandra Huerta was arrested in Del Rio on May 12. Seferino Huerta-Casillas is now the only indicted co-defendant still at large.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Spears, Todd Keagle and Ashley Ellis-Dotson are prosecuting the case.
