A suspected Gulf Cartel hitman apprehended after illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border has been indicted on federal terrorism charges.
Jose Flores-Flores was indicted on charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and illegal reentry, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Aaron Reitz announced at a McAllen press conference Wednesday.
According to federal officials, Border Patrol agents apprehended Flores-Flores near Mission in July after he illegally entered the United States from Mexico.
It was at least his second illegal entry into the country. Reitz said Flores-Flores had previously entered shortly before President Donald Trump took office in January 2025 and was subsequently deported.
During processing following the latest apprehension, agents noticed inconsistencies regarding Flores-Flores’ claimed age and began asking additional questions.
The investigation ultimately uncovered alleged ties to the Gulf Cartel’s Los Metros faction and evidence of violent cartel activity in Mexico.
Federal officials said a review of Flores-Flores’ phone uncovered graphic images and video depicting dismembered and burned human remains, as well as images of Flores-Flores holding weapons and military-style radios.
Reitz said Flores-Flores admitted to authorities that he was a sicario who had worked for the Gulf Cartel for approximately a year and acknowledged that he was the individual depicted in the material recovered from his phone.
“He described his job as a ranger and hitman for the Gulf Cartel, driving around looking for targets, monitoring Mexican authorities and rival cartels’ communications,” said Reitz.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Chief Jared Ashby said information uncovered by agents also helped identify suspected human disposal locations in Mexico.
“Review of digital evidence revealed three sets of human remains from possible grave sites,” said Ashby.
Authorities said the identities of the victims remain unknown.
The terrorism charges come after the Trump administration designated the Gulf Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.
Reitz said the designation allowed federal prosecutors to pursue charges that would not previously have been available in a case like Flores-Flores’.
Without the designation, Reitz said Flores-Flores likely would have faced only an illegal reentry charge based on what authorities knew at the time of his apprehension.
“President Trump unlocked a powerful tool in designating the Gulf Cartel a foreign terrorist organization,” said Reitz.
The indictment marks the first case involving the Gulf Cartel in the Southern District of Texas brought under the federal material-support statute since the designation.
Reitz said it is the third set of material-support charges brought by his office involving organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations under the Trump administration.
Federal prosecutors are also investigating potential material support provided to other designated organizations, including Tren de Aragua.
“We’ve got investigations into all of the above,” said Reitz, while declining to provide details about ongoing cases.
Each of the two material-support charges against Flores-Flores carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to Reitz. Prosecutors said additional charges could be brought as the investigation continues.
Reitz said federal prosecutors intend to seek the heaviest penalties available.
