Operation Take Back America has led to 95 new charges in South Texas, including multiple cases of illegal reentry, drug trafficking, and firearms violations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
The operation, spanning from June 27 to July 2, resulted in 62 people being charged with illegal entry, while another 26 face felony reentry charges. Many of these individuals have prior criminal records, including narcotics offenses, violent crimes, and other immigration violations.
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Among the most notable cases, 16 Venezuelan nationals living illegally in Houston were charged with drug trafficking and weapons offenses tied to the Anti-Tren criminal organization, which has been linked to violent crimes such as attempted murder and other violent acts.
Federal charges were filed against individuals like Cesar Alejandro Tovar-Guillen, a convicted felon for cocaine distribution, who was apprehended after being previously removed from the U.S. just months ago. Osvaldo Aguilar-Aguilar and Jose Alejandro Dominguez-Guzman, both repeat offenders, were also charged after previously being removed in 2024 and having served time for illegal reentry.
In McAllen, Margarito Llanes was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison after leading authorities on a high-speed chase, which resulted in a crash that seriously injured all eight passengers in his vehicle. Llanes, who has a history of violent crime, was previously convicted for offenses such as indecency with a child and robbery.
Additionally, two Mexican nationals, Luis Ernesto Hernandez-Doria and Jose Angel Lopez-Herrera, received multi-year sentences for illegal reentry. Hernandez-Doria had previously been convicted of felony illegal reentry and weapons charges, while Lopez-Herrera’s case involved a human smuggling incident that resulted in a fatal drowning.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas continues to prioritize border security and the eradication of violent crime.
“Operation Take Back America is about going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure they cannot take root in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “SDTX is unapologetic in carrying out this mission to secure our borders and protect our communities from those who would do harm.”