EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Thirteen people have been charged in a federal investigation into the alleged transportation of stolen vehicles from across the United States through El Paso and into Mexico, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announced Monday.
The investigation, called Operation Southbound Takedown, began in Spring 2026 after federal agents and prosecutors identified a pattern of stolen personal and rental vehicles allegedly being delivered to people associated with criminal organizations in Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said 29 vehicles valued at about $1.1 million have been recovered.
Prosecutors allege the vehicles were stolen from owners and rental car companies in the southwestern United States, driven to El Paso and taken across the border.
They allege the vehicles were then used to support the day-to-day operations of Mexican cartels.
The defendants are each charged with interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The defendants are Kimberly Aguilar and Marty Gerardo Jr., who are in state custody, and David Monarrez, Cesar David Diaz, Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez, Christopher Rene Reyes, Angel Antonio Flores, Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans, Amy Foote, James Dewey Garrett, Hilario Abraham Morales, Pablo Frias and Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office identified nine of the 11 defendants arrested between July 22 and Oct. 19 as U.S. citizens.
Frias, a Mexican citizen, has a legal permanent resident card, and Mendez Rivas, also a Mexican citizen, has a border crossing card, the office said.
Aguilar was indicted March 25, and Gerardo was indicted July 22.
“This work is ongoing; we’re not stopping here,” said Ryan G. McRae, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, in a statement.
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