Story Created:
May 15, 2008 at 3:21 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 15, 2008 at 3:21 PM CST
EL PASO, Texas (AP) - A 28-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent has been indicted with two other men on federal money-laundering and human smuggling charges.
Federal prosecutors say Jesus M. Huizar was arrested Tuesday along with Chihuahua residents Emeterio Sigala-Favela and Luis Carlos Chacon-Rubio. Sigala-Favela is 37, and Chacon-Rubio is 32.
The indictment alleges the three suspects had conspired since 2005 to smuggle more than 100 undocumented immigrants into the United States from Mexico. Huizar was allegedly paid $500 for each migrant who crossed the border.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of a safe house Huizar allegedly owns in El Paso and a monetary judgment of $500,000.
Huizar has worked for the Border Patrol for five years. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Sigala-Favela and Chacon-Rubio face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
The suspects remain in the El Paso County Jail. No bond had been set.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-05-15-08 1216EDT
