Federal authorities arrested a South Texas juvenile probation officer after finding a migrant from Honduras hiding in the back of a car.
The incident occurred this week near Laredo, Texas, when suspect Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez allegedly pulled over in a gray Ford Escape at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Texas Highway 39.
On Thursday morning, Rodriguez appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge, who formally informed him of the charges and ordered him held without bail. Rodriguez also waived his preliminary hearing and asked for a court-appointed attorney.
According to court documents filed by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Rodriguez was wearing a Hidalgo County Juvenile Probation badge during Sunday’s smuggling attempt. When he arrived at the checkpoint, Rodriguez allegedly told authorities he was returning from a training event in Laredo.
A USBP officer at the checkpoint noticed a “large amount of air freshener” in the vehicle. Shortly after, a police dog alerted officers to the presence of the vehicle’s rear cargo area, according to court documents. Officers had Rodriguez open the rear door and found a Honduran migrant, identified as David Edgardo Rodriguez Maldonado, hiding under a black sheet.
During questioning, Rodriguez-Maldonado told authorities he had crossed the border from Mexico on a raft two days earlier and that his sister had made arrangements with the traffickers, who he thought were in McAllen, not near Laredo.
When federal agents attempted to question Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez about his role in driving the migrants, he reportedly demanded an attorney and refused to answer any questions.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. twitter and FacebookContact details: email address.
Brandon Darby is Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and other senior Breitbart executives. twitter and FacebookContact details: email address.
