A Texas man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent. Kevin Dominguez, 26, of Katy, Texas, was found guilty after an incident at a Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 57 on August 1, 2023.
According to court records, Dominguez drove up to the checkpoint, where a trained USBP canine alerted agents to activity in his trunk. When agents investigated, they discovered an individual hidden inside. Rather than comply, Dominguez reversed his vehicle, hitting an agent before speeding away.
A high-speed pursuit followed, with a USBP helicopter later tracking two people fleeing from the vehicle into an open field. One of them was quickly apprehended and identified as an undocumented immigrant from Honduras. Dominguez was indicted on two charges on September 13, 2023, arrested the next day, and later pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024. His conviction resulted in an 18-month prison sentence.
Border Enforcement Actions in El Paso
In a separate case highlighting continued immigration enforcement efforts, federal authorities in El Paso, Texas, arrested four individuals involved in an alleged smuggling operation. Agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit were monitoring a motel known for housing undocumented immigrants when they noticed a car with a temporary license plate frequenting several local motels.
Court documents state that the driver briefly entered the motel lobby before leaving in a different car, also bearing a temporary plate. Agents later saw three individuals exiting a motel room and getting into that second vehicle. The driver, identified as Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, admitted to being a Mexican national residing in the U.S. unlawfully. Two others, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo and Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, were also detained after revealing that more undocumented migrants were inside the motel room.
Authorities then discovered and detained seven additional undocumented individuals linked to the operation. As the investigation continued, agents observed the initial driver returning to the motel. He approached a specific room and knocked on the door. Identified as Jesus David Reyes-Villagran, he claimed ownership of the room and admitted he had just transported five other undocumented individuals to another motel in El Paso.
The suspects involved in this smuggling operation are now facing serious criminal charges. If convicted, Aguilar-Flores, Carrillo-Carrillo, Lopez-Acevedo, and Reyes-Villagran could each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Their final sentences will be determined according to federal sentencing guidelines and relevant legal considerations.
Honduran Citizen Arrested for Illegal Re-Entry
In yet another case of border law enforcement, federal agents arrested Melvin Armando Funes-Canales, a Honduran national with a history of deportations and criminal offenses. Funes-Canales was taken into custody in Austin, Texas, after being linked to illegal re-entry into the United States.
Court records show that he was initially detained in the Williamson County jail around July 16, 2024, for possession of a controlled substance. Further investigations confirmed that he had previously been deported on October 9, 2020, in addition to five prior deportations. His criminal history includes past convictions for burglary, grand theft, and illegal re-entry into the country.
Facing charges for illegal re-entry, Funes-Canales could receive up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. As in the other cases, his sentence will be determined by a federal judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable legal factors.
These recent cases underscore ongoing federal efforts to secure the border, combat human smuggling networks, and enforce immigration laws across the United States.
