Thirteen individuals face federal charges following the investigation of an alleged scheme to transport stolen vehicles to Mexican cartels.
The 13 defendants are each charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and could receive up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. Of those charged, 11 are American citizens while two are Mexican nationals, one a lawful permanent resident and the other a border crossing card holder.
The arrests resulted from Operation Southbound Takedown, which authorities said began following an ongoing “alarming pattern” of stolen personal and rental vehicles that were allegedly being transported to individuals associated with criminal organizations in Mexico.
According to U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons of the Western District of Texas, cartels were recruiting U.S. citizens and others who could cross the border legally to bring the stolen vehicles to them.
Investigators identified El Paso as a major border crossing point for the vehicles.
The stolen vehicles were then allegedly placed in the hands of Mexican cartels for day-to-day operations.
According to Simmons, the cartels include those designated as terrorist organizations such as La Linea and Sinaloa.
Simmons also noted that cartels use the stolen vehicles to facilitate murder, smuggle people and guns, and traffic drugs including fentanyl.
Investigators have now recovered 29 vehicles worth approximately $1,137,000 in the operation.
“These are not isolated property crimes. The stolen vehicles related to Operation Southbound Takedown demonstrate an alarming pattern and are used to support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations,” said Ryan G. McRae, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso.
“The FBI is committed to protecting our communities through strong partnerships, close collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private sector companies and proactive, aggressive investigations” said Coult W. Markovsky, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “To individuals assisting the cartels, justice will find you.”
“You are now on notice. If you provide support to these cartels, many of which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, by transporting stolen vehicles out of this country and into Mexico, we will find you, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” he stated.
