The recent federal conviction and sentencing of a man who tried to run over an FBI agent while driving a stolen truck into Mexico highlights a growing trend plaguing South Texas. Thefts of four-door SUVs and pickup trucks brought into Mexico at the request of the Gulf Cartel are on the rise in several cities. Criminal organizations are using trucks in an ongoing turf war.
This week, 23-year-old Damian Evans Lopez appeared before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera and was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for assaulting a federal officer. Evans pleaded guilty in September, according to U.S. prosecutors.
On June 28, FBI agents were searching for a stolen vehicle at one of the international ports of entry in Brownsville, Texas, when they spotted Evans in a stolen Chevrolet truck, authorities said. . They tried to get the driver out of the truck. Evens lunged straight at the FBI agent, who had to jump out of the way to avoid the attack. Evans attempted to flee in his car, leading authorities on a high-speed chase that ended in San Benito, Texas.
In recent months, cities like Harlingen, Brownsville and Farr, Texas, have been plagued by a wave of vehicle thefts, mostly four-door SUVs and pickup trucks. As reported by Breitbart Texas, these vehicles will be flown to Mexico and handed over to the Gulf Cartel. Criminal organizations prefer these vehicles with high clearance and powerful engines. The truck allows the cartel to transport at least four armed men. In some cases, stolen trucks are equipped with makeshift armor plates.
The wave of vehicle thefts was sometimes violent. In late November, a gunman held two women at gunpoint and stole their late model SUV outside a Brownsville restaurant. Brownsville Police say one of the suspects is believed to be hiding out in Mexico.
Mexican authorities have done little to stop car thieves from entering the country. In several attempts, the suspects were able to drive through security checkpoints on the Mexican side of the border.
This week, one of the factions of the Gulf Cartel shared a video on social media interrogating a young man who they say was sent to Reynosa to steal a vehicle belonging to a rival faction of the Gulf Cartel. The young man's fate remains unknown. People who appeared in similar videos have been tortured and killed in the past.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Breitbart's senior management team. you can follow him Twitter And even more facebook. He can be contacted at: iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Breitbart's senior management team. please follow him Twitter and facebook. He can be contacted at: bdarby@breitbart.com.
