SAN ANTONIO – Federal officials announced significant developments in a South Texas human smuggling investigation linked to the death of seven immigrants.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons and Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco announced the indictments of 11 people connected to the investigation during a Friday morning news conference.
The identities of the indicted are:
Franklin Williams Ayala Aguilera
Jonas Ulloa-Aguilera
Damian Huerta Analucas
Karina Garcia
Eric Hernandez
Mayra Alejandra Huerta
Seferino Huerta-Casillas
Pascual Raymundo Loarca
Rosario Cristal Lopez-Saldana
Maria Norma Neri de Moran
Edson Alejandro Perez
Simmons said five suspects are non-U.S. citizens, four are U.S. citizens and two are “lawful, permanent” U.S. residents. Of those indicted, law enforcement is actively searching for two suspects — Karina Garcia and Seferino Huerta-Casillas.
All 11 are facing the following charges:
conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death
aiding and abetting the transportation of aliens resulting in death
If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“Those thinking about entering this country illegally: don’t,” Simmons said Friday. “There is a legal pathway for you to come into this country. You do not have to hand your life over to smugglers and the cartels with which they work because they don’t care about your life.”
The train’s path
The bodies of six immigrants were found just after 3:30 p.m. on May 10, 2026, at a rail yard in the 12000 block of Jim Young Way, which is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown Laredo.
In a previous news release, the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office identified five of the six immigrants found in Laredo:
A 56-year-old man from Mexico
A 45-year-old man from Mexico
A 29-year-old woman from Mexico
A 24-year-old man from Honduras
A 14-year-old boy from Honduras
The Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the woman from Mexico died due to hyperthermia. Officials believe it is likely they all suffered the same cause of death.
A seventh person, a Mexican resident believed to be connected to those found in Laredo, was discovered on May 11, 2026, along railroad tracks in southwest Bexar County, Sheriff Javier Salazar said two months ago.
Simmons said Friday that the immigrants were in a shipping container carried on a train from Del Rio to Laredo. As the train arrived in San Antonio, the U.S. attorney said the body of that seventh person “fell out of the (train) car” and “left for dead.” The train then continued its trek to Laredo.
The seventh immigrant, a man, was later identified as Nereo Aguilar Garcia, 49, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to Simmons, individuals paid the human smuggling organization between $1,500 and $10,000 to get them across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pasciucco credited the Homeland Security Task Force’s “critical role” in Friday’s federal indictments.
“By leveraging the expertise and resources of our HSTF partners, we have coordinated efforts across agencies, shared vital intelligence and enhance the effectiveness of our enforcement actions in a short period of time,” Pasciucco said.
In addition to the DOJ and HSI, Pasciucco said the U.S. Border Patrol and Laredo Police Department contributed to the federal investigation.
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