South Texas teens face weapons, human smuggling charges

McALLEN, Texas ( Border Report ) — Two teens face weapons charges and another faces human smuggling charges following recent arrests in South Texas.

One of the teens is also accused of making a terroristic threat.

On Monday, McAllen police announced the arrest of two teens, ages 17 and 18.

Alan Ronaldo Zamarron, 17, of McAllen, is charged with making a terroristic threat, and for illegally possessing a 9mm Masterpiece Arms (MPA) Defender pistol that was equipped with a 30-round magazine, police said. He also faces charges of illegal drug possession.

Officials say he was arrested on Sept. 6 for allegedly sending threatening messages with the firearm via social media. He’s being held in a juvenile detention center, police said.

Adrian Velasquez, 18, of McAllen, was arrested Sunday on charges of evading arrest, and unlawfully carrying of weapons and prohibited weapons, police said. This includes allegations that he was in possession of a .40-caliber Glock 22 handgun with a converter that allows the gun to automatically shoot multiple rounds with the pull of a trigger, according to police.

Velasquez also was charged with possessing a fake driver’s license.

Police say he was arrested in a parking lot after fleeing from detention and showing the gun in a parking lot.

On Thursday, Luis Gerardo Paz, 17, was arrested Thursday at a high school in the border town of Laredo, Texas, on a warrant for human smuggling.

The charges stem from an April 19 crash that reportedly involved a car that was driving at high speeds carrying several migrants north of Laredo, according to media reports.

Laredo police told KGNS that Paz was involved in the rollover accident.

Paz is being held in the Webb County Jail on a $20,000 bond on charges of smuggling of persons with a likelihood of injury or death, according to jail reports .

U.S. Border Patrol agents confirmed to Border Report on Monday that Texas DPS worked the case.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.

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