3 arrested after 20+ people from Mission stash house found in hot trailer

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  Three people were arrested after authorities found more than 20 people being transported in the back of a hot trailer.

A criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral alleges Rio Grande City resident Joe Michael Cruz, 64, transported undocumented immigrants from Mission to Hebbronville with the help of two co-conspirators — 19-year-old Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia and 21-year-old Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel.

All three men were arrested after an attempt to transport 24 people inside a box trailer through the Hebbronville Border Patrol checkpoint.

According to the complaint, Cruz arrived at the checkpoint hauling a box trailer on July 17, when Border Patrol noticed the trailer had an uneven weight distribution.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice

Agents searched the trailer, leading to the discovery of 24 people inside the trailer, including co-conspirator Moreno.

The complaint alleges Moreno was a paid smuggler accompanying the people in the back of the trailer, with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Moreno stated he was going to be paid $3,000 to accompany Cruz during the smuggling attempt.

Additionally, Moreno said he accompanied Cruz two weeks earlier and successfully smuggled 18 people two weeks before the arrest.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice

Two undocumented immigrants from the trailer gave statements to the agents, claiming that before they were transported into the trailer, they were kept at a stash house in Mission.

A search warrant was issued at the stash house in Mission, where law enforcement found 10 undocumented immigrants with co-conspirator Rangel, who was identified as the caretaker of the residence.

Rangel admitted to being responsible for the stash house and providing resources for undocumented immigrants.

Authorities interviewed the people in the truck who stated that while in the trailer one of them passed out.

All three smugglers face a maximum of 10 years in prison.