Case 7:17-cr-00121 Document 1 Filed in TXSD on 01/13/17 Page 1 of 4 A0 91 (Rev. 08/09) Criminal Complaint m5 92W 333" UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the JAN 1 3 20f! Southern District of Texas mum Unlted States of Amerlca v. Daniel SALINAS (YOB: 1985) Case No. if] (3qu a Mark Anthony SALINAS (YOB: 1995) USCs Defendant(s) CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. On or about the date(s) of January 12, 2017 in the county of Starr in the Southern District of Texas the defendant(s) violated: Code Section O??ense Description 8 USC Sections each defendant knowing and in a reckless disregard of the fact that Genaro and Arreoloa-Nieto, Miguel Vargas Cejas, and Pedro Martinez-Arreola, who were aliens, had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law, did knowingly and intentionally conspire and agree with each other and others, to transport, move, and, attempt to transport and move said aliens within the United States in furtherance of such violation of law, by means of transportation, from a locatoin near La Grulla, Texas, to another location near La Grulla, Texas, by means of a vehicle. This criminal complaint is based on these facts: Before the United States Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Texas, I, Antonio Marin, Special Agent, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, being duly sworn, depose and say the following: See Attachment A 9? Continued on the attached sheet. 0k) Complainant ?s signature Antonio Marin, HSI Special Agent Printed name and title befpi??liie and Sign] in my 0 l13/2017 ng re McAllen, Texas 1%}an Tori-eye u.s. Magistrate Judge Printed name and title Case 7:17-cr-00121 Document 1 Filed in TXSD on 01/13/17 Page 2 of 4 Attachment A Af?davit On January 12, 2017, La Grulla PD Of?cer Matias Barrera, was on routine patrol when he observed a gray 2007 Chevy PK (vehicle) bearing Texas license plate BSY704O traveling northbound on Johnson Street in La Grulla, TX, within the Southern District of Texas. Of?cer Barrera observed the vehicle turn eastbound on West 2nd Street, then disregard the stop sign at West 2nd Street and Leopoldo Longoria in La Grulla, Texas. Of?cer Barrera attempted to conduct a traf?c stop by activating his emergency lights on his marked patrol unit, but the vehicle refused to stop and ?ed at a high rate of speed. The pursuit ended when the driver of the vehicle struck a tree. Of?cer Barrera recognized the driver as Daniel SALINAS. Daniel SALINAS exited the vehicle and ?ed on foot. Of?cer Barrera detained two subjects as they ?ed from the vehicle, one adult male and one adult female, who were released to Border Patrol (BP) agents. Other BP agents, while on assigned patrol duties in the same area, observed the pursuit past their location and assisted the Of?cer Barrera by activating their BP unit?s emergency lights and followed. BP agents observed Daniel SALINAS run away from the scene and in the direction of Leopoldo Street. BP agents pursued Daniel SALINAS on foot and observed a second pickup truck arrive to pick up Daniel SALINAS as he ran away from agents. The second pickup truck was later determined to be driven by Daniel brother Mark Anthony SALINAS. BP agents chased the second vehicle a short distance away from the scene near the banks of the Rio Grande River where both Daniel and Mark Anthony SALINAS were subsequently detained and tranSported to the BP station near Rio Grande City, Texas, for processing. BP Agents were able to locate three more subjects near the scene of the accident and determined that one required medical attention. All five undocumented aliens (UDAs) were found to be illegally in the United States and citizens of Mexico. One undocumented was transported to the Starr County Hospital via ambulance due to injuries observed to his face area. That subject later died at the hospital. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents were noti?ed of the incident and fatality and responded to the BP station to investigate. Upon arrival, HSI SAs interviewed all subject involved in this case and processed the vehicles involved for evidence. Both Mark Anthony and Daniel SALINAS were interviewed separately by HSI SAs. They were both read their Miranda Rights. Both subjects stated they understood their rights and wished to make statements regarding their arrest and case without an attorney. Mark Anthony SALINAS stated the following: Case 7:17-cr-00121 Document 1 Filed in TXSD on 01/13/17 Page 3 of 4 Mark Anthony SALINAS admitted he and his brother Daniel SALINAS have been smuggling undocumented aliens and narcotics for many years. On January 12, 2017, Mark Anthony SALINAS received a call from a contact he works with smuggling undocumented aliens from Mexico into the US. to transport the ?ve UDAs from La Grulla, Texas, to an unknown location in McAllen, Texas. Mark Anthony SALINAS spoke to his brother, Daniel SALINAS, and referred the smuggling venture to Daniel SALINAS. Daniel SALINAS would be paid $500 per UDA and was going to pay Mark Anthony SALINAS $50 per UDA for the referral. Later, Mark Anthony SALINAS went to a local store near the area where Daniel SALINAS was going to pick up the UDAs. Upon arrival to that store, Mark Anthony SALINAS observed Daniel SALINAS being followed by La Grulla PD and later chased. Mark Anthony SALINAS further admitted he drove the pickup he was arrested in, which belongs to his cousin, and picked up his brother as he was being chased by BP agents. Mark Anthony SALINAS drove the vehicle he was driving towards the Rio Grande River where both defendants attempted to ?ee into Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River. They were both arrested by BP agents. Daniel SALINAS stated the following: Daniel SALINAS admitted he was driving the vehicle that La Grulla PD chased which was bearing Texas license plate BSY7040. He agreed to smuggle aliens, and was going to get paid $50 to transport the UDAs to an unknown location in La Grulla, Texas. Daniel SALINAS further stated that he sped away from La Grulla PD because he panicked and didn?t know what do to because he is currently on parole for an evading arrest conviction. Daniel SALINAS admitted that he picked up a female and two males who were front passengers and stated there may have been more UDAs that got in the back or bed of the pickup truck he sped away in. Daniel SALINAS remembered running away on foot as BP agents chased him, and his brother picking him up and helped drag him into the get away vehicle. MATERIAL WITNESS STATEMENTS: Genaro Pedro made the smuggling arrangements from Mexico. Genaro was going to be charged $8,000 to be smuggled to the state of Iowa. All ?ve UDAs crossed yesterday in the afternoon hours and spent the night in the brush. After daybreak they made a move for the residential area. He stated that they noticed the vehicle parked and they approached and got on the vehicle. Pedro was riding in the middle and the older female was in the passenger side seat (inside the cab). He along with two other males rode in the bed of the vehicle. As they drove he heard the driver accelerate and make a sharp right turn. Shortly after turning he heard police sirens. During the impact he struck his head in the bed of the truck and bailed out so he would not get caught. He was not able to identify the driver of the vehicle, but was Case 7:17-cr-00121 Document 1 Filed in TXSD on 01/13/17 Page 4 of 4 able to identify all UDAs and the vehicle that transported them. He also admitted he is a Mexican citizen, without the proper documents to. be in the United States legally. Miguel VARGAS Cejas: Miguel VARGAS Cejas stated he and his friends, Genaro and Pedro all from Mexico, and Mexican nationals, decided to cross illegally into the United States. Pedro made arrangements with an unknown subject to be smuggled illegally into the United States. All three traveled by bus from Michoacan, to Guadalajara, to Monterey and arriving to Valadezes, Mexico where an unknown male subject placed them in a vehicle and drove them to a residence. While at the smuggler's residence, they met a female and male subject that were going to cross illegally into United States. All ?ve subjects were escorted toa raft and were illegally crossed into the United States by two male guides. All ?ve UDAs were left in the brush to sleep overnight while the two guides went back into Mexico. In the morning the two guides return and guided the ?ve UDAs on an approximately three hour long walk. All ?ve UDAs and the guides later reached a gravel road where they waited for a vehicle. The guides instructed the ?ve UDAs to get inside the vehicle. Approximately two minutes later they heard sirens and the truck made sharp turns and drove in a high rate of speed. The truck came to a sudden stop as they crashed. Miguel VARGAS Cej as stated that all three arranged to pay $8000 once they arrived at their ?nal destination. Miguel VARGAS Cej as stated he paid $800 to the caretaker in Valadezes, Mexico. Miguel had $8400 USD on his person. Miguel was unable to identify the driver of the vehicle but can identify the vehicle that transported them. He also admitted he is a Mexican national and did not have the authority to be in the United States legally. The facts of this case were presented to the McAllen AUSA Wang who accepted prosecution of the case for Violation of 8 USC 1324, Alien Smuggling.