Federal authorities in Houston announced multiple arrests this week involving violent crimes and human smuggling, including an assault on a Border Patrol agent and the discovery of 55 illegal foreign nationals crammed inside a box truck, as reported by The Center Square.

On Wednesday, two Mexican nationals appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett in Houston on charges connected to the assault of a female Border Patrol agent. The men were identified as Juan Carmen Padron Mendez, 29, and Juan Carlos Padron Barron, 23.

According to court documents, the agent encountered the two men earlier this week, determined they were in the country illegally, and placed them in custody using flexicuffs.

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She secured them in a Border Patrol vehicle for transport to a detention facility. At a red light during the transport, Mendez allegedly wrapped his arm around her neck and began choking her.

While the assault occurred, Barron escaped the vehicle, took their belongings from the front seat, and fled on foot. Mendez also fled the scene after releasing the agent.

The agent called for assistance, and both men were later apprehended. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and has since been released.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said in a statement, “The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for those who assault law enforcement.

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Let it be known: if you lay a hand on an officer, deputy, or federal agent, SDTX will do whatever it can to put you in federal prison for as long as the law will allow.”

The men face charges of assaulting and impeding a federal officer, which carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison. Additional charges related to escape from custody could bring further fines and prison time if convicted.

CBP Senior Advisor Ronald Vitiello commented:

“This incident underscores the extreme dangers our agents face every single day. Attempting to choke a federal agent is an outrageous and cowardly act. Thanks to the agent’s quick action and the coordinated law enforcement response, the perpetrators are back in custody and facing serious federal charges.”

In a separate case, federal prosecutors charged two men with human smuggling after discovering nearly six dozen illegal foreign nationals concealed inside a box truck in Zapata County.

The suspects were identified as Brandon Lajohn Hargrove, 43, of Houston, and Jose Luis Castellanos-Hercules, 21, a Honduran national illegally present in the United States. Both men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker for detention hearings on Thursday.

Authorities said Hargrove was driving the box truck when he was stopped near San Ygnacio. He told officers he was hauling produce.

A search revealed Castellanos-Hercules inside the truck, as well as a hidden compartment containing 55 individuals. The compartment had a small access door blocked by heavy pallets, preventing those inside from escaping without assistance.

The individuals found in the truck were citizens of multiple countries, including China, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, and Venezuela. Three of them were under the age of 17.

Prosecutors said the migrants had been held in a stash house in Mission, Texas, prior to being loaded into the truck. The stash house was already known to authorities for its role in smuggling activity.

Ganjei emphasized the risks of human smuggling in his statement: “Smuggling is a dangerous and often deadly business, and one should neither engage in human smuggling nor seek smuggling services. People overseas would be well-advised to stay home and stay safe.”

If convicted, both Hargrove and Castellanos-Hercules face up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000. Several of the foreign nationals are also facing charges of illegal entry and reentry.

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