Seven Borderland residents were indicted by a federal grand jury along with two other people for their involvement in a migrant smuggling organization.
Jose Luis Avalos, aka “El Gordo,” 40, of El Paso, Texas, allegedly led the human smuggling operation. Avalos and his wife, Kristina Hardin, 41, also from El Paso, were arrested in El Paso on Thursday, according to the indictment and other court records which were recently unsealed.
Avalos and Hardin had a detention hearing Wednesday which was set to be continued on Monday, according to federal court records. If convicted, Avalos and Hardin each face 20 years in prison.
Avalos’ brother, David Avalos-Solis, 48, of Chaparral, New Mexico, was arrested on May 24 and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Avalos-Solis faces 10 years in prison.
Nancy Orellana-Recinos, 37, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on Thursday and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Orellana-Recinos faces 20 years in prison and will be subject to deportation.
Dario Rey Gamboa, 19, and his twin brother Diego Rean Gamboa, aka “Sunny,” 19, both of Las Cruces, New Mexico, were arrested on May 23 and Thursday respectively. Dario Rey Gamboa was released on conditions, and Diego Rean Gamboa is pending a detention hearing to determine whether he will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, they each face 10 years in prison.
Cindy Marie Escobar, 42, of Lordsburg, New Mexico, was arrested on May 23 and is pending a detention hearing to determine whether she will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Escobar faces 10 years in prison.
Justin Walker, 31, of Las Cruces, New Mexico was arrested on May 27, 2023, and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Walker faces 10 years in prison.
A warrant for the arrest of Adam Guerrero, 38 of Las Cruces, New Mexico has been issued.
According to court documents, Jose Luis Avalos would smuggle migrants himself and also hired Avalos-Solis, Guerrero, Walker, Dario Rey Gamboa and Diego Rean Gamboa to transport migrants from El Paso and Dona Ana County, New Mexico to Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties in New Mexico.
Orellana-Recinos and Escobar reportedly helped house the migrants temporarily.
The investigation was conducted as part of Joint Task Force Alpha created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
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