A man caught smuggling a migrant said he was taking the migrant to San Antonio to help him fix a car because he was a good mechanic, states the arrest affidavit.
Gerardo Aguero was arrested and charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport a migrant who had crossed the border illegally.
A silver Ford Focus driven arrived at the Interstate 35 checkpoint at about 4 p.m. May 9. As the vehicle stopped, the driver and passenger shouted simultaneously that they were U.S. citizens. Authorities identified the driver as Aguero and Carlos Javier Meraz-Meza as the passenger.
Due to their abnormal behavior, the inspecting agent asked them for identification. Aguero provided a Texas driver’s license while Meraz-Meza claimed he had forgotten his wallet at home. An agent asked Aguero how he knew Meraz-Meza.
Aguero allegedly stated that Meraz-Meza was a co-worker and was doing him a favor by driving him to San Antonio. But Meraz-Meza would then admit he was a citizen of Honduras who had crossed the border illegally. Both were detained for further investigation.
Aguero allegedly agreed to give a post-arrest statement.
“Aguero stated he did not know Meraz-Meza and claimed he was taking him to San Antonio, Texas to help him fix a car. Aguero stated Meraz-Meza did not pay him any money but offered to take him because he was a good mechanic,” states the affidavit.
Meraz-Meza stated Aguero offered to take him to San Antonio for $4,000. Meraz-Meza stated he accepted the offer and paid Aguero $2,000 upfront. Aguero allegedly picked up Meraz-Meza later and took him to his house, where Meraz-Meza paid Aguero the remaining $2,000, according to court documents.
Prior to reaching the checkpoint, Aguero told Meraz-Meza to say he was a U.S. citizen, states the affidavit.
A man caught smuggling a migrant said he was taking the migrant to San Antonio to help him fix a car because he was a good mechanic, states the arrest affidavit.
Gerardo Aguero was arrested and charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport a migrant who had crossed the border illegally.
A silver Ford Focus driven arrived at the Interstate 35 checkpoint at about 4 p.m. May 9. As the vehicle stopped, the driver and passenger shouted simultaneously that they were U.S. citizens. Authorities identified the driver as Aguero and Carlos Javier Meraz-Meza as the passenger.
Due to their abnormal behavior, the inspecting agent asked them for identification. Aguero provided a Texas driver’s license while Meraz-Meza claimed he had forgotten his wallet at home. An agent asked Aguero how he knew Meraz-Meza.
Aguero allegedly stated that Meraz-Meza was a co-worker and was doing him a favor by driving him to San Antonio. But Meraz-Meza would then admit he was a citizen of Honduras who had crossed the border illegally. Both were detained for further investigation.
Aguero allegedly agreed to give a post-arrest statement.
“Aguero stated he did not know Meraz-Meza and claimed he was taking him to San Antonio, Texas to help him fix a car. Aguero stated Meraz-Meza did not pay him any money but offered to take him because he was a good mechanic,” states the affidavit.
Meraz-Meza stated Aguero offered to take him to San Antonio for $4,000. Meraz-Meza stated he accepted the offer and paid Aguero $2,000 upfront. Aguero allegedly picked up Meraz-Meza later and took him to his house, where Meraz-Meza paid Aguero the remaining $2,000, according to court documents.
Prior to reaching the checkpoint, Aguero told Meraz-Meza to say he was a U.S. citizen, states the affidavit.Read Morelocal_news
