MEXICO · SECURITY
Key Facts
- The country Mexico faces El Paso, Texas, across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juárez, a city of about 1.5 million people, and Washington now designates its large criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
- Why it matters The stolen cars were taken from private owners and from major rental car companies in the US Southwest, so the case reaches ordinary drivers and renters.
- Why now Federal prosecutors in El Paso announced the charges on Monday 26 October 2026.
- What happened Thirteen people are charged with moving stolen vehicles through El Paso to cartels in Mexico, and investigators recovered 29 vehicles worth about US$1.14 million.
- What it means for you Owners and renters in the Southwest are the victims, and prosecutors allege the stolen vehicles supported cartel operations.
- Still open Which cartels received the vehicles, whether more arrests follow, and when the cases go to trial.
- Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
Federal prosecutors in El Paso, Texas, announced charges against 13 people on Monday 26 October 2026 for allegedly moving stolen vehicles from the United States to cartels in Mexico. Investigators recovered 29 vehicles worth about US$1.14 million in the case, called Operation Southbound Takedown, which began in the spring of 2026, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Each defendant is charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries up to 10 years in federal prison. The vehicles were allegedly taken from private owners and from major rental car companies across the southwestern United States, driven to El Paso and taken across the border into Mexico.
Who Is Charged
Eleven of the 13 defendants are US citizens and two are Mexican citizens, according to the Justice Department. Pablo Frias holds a legal permanent resident card, and Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas holds a Border Crossing Card.
Kimberly Aguilar, indicted on 25 March, and Marty Gerardo Jr., indicted on 22 July, are in state custody. The other US citizens charged are David Monarrez, Cesar David Diaz, Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez, Christopher Rene Reyes, Angel Antonio Flores, Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans, Amy Foote, James Dewey Garrett and Hilario Abraham Morales.
The remaining 11 defendants were arrested between 22 July and 19 October, the US Attorney’s Office said. An indictment is only an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What Investigators Said
US Attorney Justin R. Simmons said, “To anyone considering transporting stolen vehicles into Mexico: do not do it.” He added that those who support the cartels will be found and prosecuted.
Ryan G. McRae, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, said, “These are not isolated property crimes.” Coult W. Markovsky, acting special agent in charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office, said, “To individuals assisting the cartels, Justice will find you!”
How the Route Allegedly Worked
According to the release, the vehicles were stolen from individual owners and from major rental car companies across the southwestern United States and driven to El Paso. From there they were taken across the border into Mexico, where prosecutors allege they went to people tied to criminal organizations.
The release says the investigation is aimed at Mexican cartels, which it describes as now designated terrorist organizations, and it does not name a specific cartel. A federal district judge would decide any sentence under the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, up to the maximum of 10 years per defendant.
The Task Force Behind the Case
The case comes from a Homeland Security Task Force established under Executive Order 14159. It brings together HSI, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, US Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the El Paso Police Department.
Assistant US Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega are prosecuting the cases. Background on US and Mexican security cooperation is on the Mexico coverage page, and an earlier report covers the row over US agents in Chihuahua.
What It Means for You
Drivers and renters in the US Southwest are the ones hit by this kind of theft, since the release says the vehicles were taken from private owners and from rental car companies. The case shows that vehicles stolen far from the border can still end up at El Paso and cross into Mexico.
McRae said, “This work is ongoing; we’re not stopping here,” according to the release and the El Paso station KFOX14. Further arrests are therefore possible, and no trial dates were published in the release.
What Is Not Known
The release does not say which cartels received the vehicles or how many of the 29 recovered vehicles are tied to each defendant. It also does not say where the vehicles were recovered or whether Mexican authorities took part in the investigation or in recovering any of them.
No pleas, detention rulings or trial dates were included in the release. The number of defendants could rise, because investigators describe the work as ongoing and the release names no further targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was charged in the El Paso stolen vehicle case?
Thirteen people were charged, 11 of them US citizens and two Mexican citizens, with interstate transportation of stolen property. Two defendants were already in state custody.
How many vehicles were involved and what were they worth?
Investigators recovered 29 vehicles valued at about US$1.14 million. They were allegedly taken from private owners and major rental car companies across the southwestern United States.
What penalty do the defendants face?
Each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district judge decides any sentence under the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Which agencies investigated?
The case comes from a Homeland Security Task Force that includes Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA and Customs and Border Protection. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the El Paso Police Department also took part.
Have the defendants been convicted?
No, an indictment is only an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The release gives no trial dates.
Sources: US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas, press release, 26 October 2026; KFOX14 El Paso, 26 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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