FEDERAL INVESTIGATION CHARGES 13 IN STOLEN VEHICLE TRAFFICKING OPERATION ALLEGEDLY SUPPLYING MEXICAN CARTELS; 29 VEHICLES RECOVERED

EL PASO, TEXAS — Thirteen individuals have been charged in a federal investigation into an alleged cross-border vehicle trafficking network accused of transporting stolen automobiles from the United States into Mexico for use by criminal cartels. The investigation, identified as Operation Southbound Takedown, has resulted in the recovery of 29 vehicles valued at approximately $1.14 million.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced the charges on October 26, 2026, during a press conference in El Paso alongside representatives from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The investigation began in spring 2026 after federal authorities identified a pattern involving privately owned vehicles and rental automobiles allegedly being stolen across the southwestern United States and transported through El Paso into Mexico. Prosecutors believe the vehicles were subsequently delivered to individuals associated with Mexican criminal organizations for use in their operations.

Investigators allege that the trafficking network relied on stolen vehicles obtained from individual owners and major rental car companies. The automobiles were reportedly moved across state lines before being transported through the U.S.–Mexico border region, where they allegedly became resources for cartel operations involving drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and other criminal activities.

The recovery of 29 vehicles, with an estimated combined value of $1,137,000, represents a significant development in the investigation. Photographs released by federal authorities show heavily modified and damaged vehicles, including armored sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks recovered during the operation.

The charges are part of a broader Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation involving law enforcement agencies in the United States and Mexico. The task force was established under Executive Order 14159 to coordinate investigations targeting transnational criminal organizations and related criminal activity.

According to the Justice Department, the federal cases developed over several months. Kimberly Aguilar, a U.S. citizen, was indicted on March 25, 2026, while Marty Gerardo Jr., also a U.S. citizen, was indicted on July 22. Both were reported to be in state custody when federal authorities announced the operation.

Eleven additional defendants were federally charged and arrested between July 22 and October 19, 2026. Nine of those defendants are U.S. citizens: David Monarrez, Cesar David Diaz, Sinuhe Baltizar Lopez, Christopher Rene Reyes, Angel Antonio Flores, Aaron Fernando Luna-Evans, Amy Foote, James Dewey Garrett, and Hilario Abraham Morales.

The remaining two defendants, Pablo Frias and Pilar Bernabeth Mendez Rivas, are Mexican citizens. Federal prosecutors identified Frias as a lawful permanent resident cardholder and Mendez Rivas as a border crossing cardholder.

All 13 defendants face federal charges of interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Actual sentences would be determined individually by a federal district court after consideration of the applicable sentencing guidelines and statutory requirements.

The investigation involves multiple federal agencies, including HSI, the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Texas Department of Public Safety and El Paso Police Department also participated in the coordinated effort.

Ryan G. McRae, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso, emphasized that investigators view the alleged trafficking activity as part of a wider criminal supply network rather than a series of unrelated vehicle thefts. Authorities believe stolen automobiles can provide transportation and operational support to criminal organizations while creating substantial financial losses for legitimate owners and rental companies.

Coult W. Markovsky, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office, also emphasized the importance of coordination between law enforcement agencies and private-sector companies in identifying and disrupting suspected vehicle trafficking operations.

The October 26 announcement does not detail how each recovered vehicle was allegedly used after entering Mexico. It identifies a broader pattern of suspected vehicle transfers to cartel-associated individuals but does not establish that every defendant participated in the same transactions or that every recovered vehicle was involved in a particular cartel offense.

The investigation remains active, with authorities examining the movement of stolen vehicles and the individuals allegedly responsible for delivering them across the border.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega are prosecuting the federal cases for the Western District of Texas.

The charges against all 13 defendants remain allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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