KAUFMAN, Texas — A 40-year-old man from Kaufman, Texas, has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale human smuggling operation.
KAUFMAN, Texas — A 40-year-old man from Kaufman, Texas, has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale human smuggling operation.
Fredi Zagala-Servin, a long-standing leader of a human smuggling organization (HSO), was convicted for his involvement in the transportation of hundreds of undocumented noncitizens from Laredo to San Antonio using tractor trailers, according to federal prosecutors.
Court documents reveal that Zagala-Servin coordinated at least 10 human smuggling events for financial gain, relaying information between co-conspirators in Mexico and the U.S. He was arrested on June 23, 2022, and has remained in federal custody since.
The Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division started investigating the HSO's activities in May 2021. The investigation linked at least 19 human smuggling events, involving the apprehension of over 900 aliens, to the organization. Between May 2021 and June 2022, HSI intercepted nine of the HSO's tractor trailers carrying smuggled noncitizens, with loads ranging from around 30 to over 100 migrants in a single trailer.
In addition to his prison sentence, Zagala-Servin was ordered three years supervised release and a money judgement of $410,250.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas said, "This human smuggling organization put the lives of hundreds of migrants in jeopardy by transporting them across south Texas in tractor trailers. It is important that people like this defendant, who endanger those lives for profit, are held accountable by our justice system."
Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the HSI San Antonio Division added, "This sentencing sends a clear message to those thinking of engaging in human smuggling activity. HSI and our law enforcement partners take an aggressive stance against human smuggling, and we will continue to work together to investigate and ultimately dismantle these criminal organizations."
The case was investigated by HSI and Joint Task Force Alpha, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Brown prosecuting.