Federal authorities say a cross-border vehicle theft network allegedly supplied Mexican cartels with cars and trucks for their criminal activities. Thirteen people have been charged in connection with the scheme.
The vehicles were allegedly stolen from private owners and major rental companies, then driven through El Paso, Texas, and across the border into Mexico. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said the vehicles were used to support the cartels’ day-to-day operations.
Investigators have recovered 29 vehicles valued at approximately $1.14 million, prosecutors said. The case is known as Operation Southbound Takedown.
Ryan G. McRae, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, said the stolen vehicles point to a broader criminal enterprise rather than isolated auto thefts.
“These are not isolated property crimes,” McRae said. “The stolen vehicles related to Operation Southbound Takedown demonstrate an alarming pattern and are used to support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations.”
Images released by prosecutors included a damaged white SUV recovered in Mexico, along with an armored black SUV and an armored pickup truck.
Federal agents and prosecutors launched the investigation in the spring after detecting a pattern of stolen vehicles being delivered to people allegedly tied to criminal organizations in Mexico, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons cautioned anyone considering transporting stolen vehicles into Mexico, saying cartels take advantage of people seeking to make a “quick buck” while advancing their criminal operations.
Those activities include “human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, and even murder,” Simmons said.
“You are now on notice,” Simmons said. “If you provide support to these cartels, many of which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, by transporting stolen vehicles out of this country and into Mexico, we will find you, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
Prosecutors said 11 of the 13 people charged are U.S. citizens, while the remaining two are Mexican citizens. One of the Mexican defendants holds a lawful permanent resident card, and the other has a border crossing card.
Two of the Americans, Kimberly Aguilar and Marty Gerardo Jr., are being held in state custody. The other 11 defendants were federally indicted and arrested between July 22 and Oct. 19, prosecutors said.
All 13 defendants face charges of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction. The charges are allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and other federal, state and local agencies operating through the Homeland Security Task Force.
McRae said authorities also coordinated with private-sector partners to disrupt the alleged vehicle theft and transportation network. The investigation spans both the United States and Mexico.
“This work is ongoing; we’re not stopping here,” he said.
Coult W. Markovsky, the FBI’s acting special agent in charge in El Paso, issued his own warning to people assisting the cartels.
“To individuals assisting the cartels, Justice will find you!” he said.