EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A Mexican national pleaded guilty in El Paso federal court Friday to conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States through an underground tunnel connecting Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez and El Paso, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.<\/p>\n
Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, admitted to one count of conspiracy to bring migrants into the United States. <\/p>\n
Federal officials said he worked with others to move people through the tunnel, which was discovered in January 2025.<\/p>\n
According to court documents, intercepted calls captured Davalos-Lopez discussing the tunnel, including the number of migrants crossing through it and fees of up to $30,000 for people seeking to enter the United States without inspection.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the tunnel was allegedly built by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci\u00f3n, or CJNG, and was used to facilitate human smuggling, drug trafficking and firearms trafficking.<\/p>\n
Davalos-Lopez and his co-defendants were indicted in April 2025. <\/p>\n
RELATED: Mexican woman indicted in El Paso on reportedly providing grenades, firearms to cartels<\/a><\/p>\n The Mexican government later transferred Davalos-Lopez to the United States under its National Security Law, the Justice Department said.<\/p>\n He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. <\/p>\n A sentencing date has not been set, and a judge will determine his sentence after considering federal guidelines and other factors.<\/p>\n Two co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty in the broader investigation. <\/p>\n Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez admitted last month to conspiring to provide material support to CJNG through firearms trafficking, while Gustavo Castro-Medina pleaded guilty to helping facilitate a $3,000 wire transfer intended for firearms purchases.<\/p>\n RELATED: Smuggling tunnel discovered in Lower Valley during joint U.S.-Mexico operation<\/a><\/p>\n