Katy Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Assaulting Border Patrol Agent
A man from Katy, Texas, Kevin Dominguez, 26, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent. The sentencing took place in a federal court in Del Rio following an incident that occurred on August 1, 2023.
According to court documents, Dominguez drove a sedan to the USBP immigration checkpoint on U.S. Highway 57. When a USBP canine alerted agents to the trunk of his vehicle, Dominguez attempted to flee, backing up and striking an agent with his car before escaping the checkpoint. This prompted a high-speed chase, during which a USBP helicopter observed two individuals exiting the vehicle into a nearby open field. One of those individuals was identified as an undocumented noncitizen from Honduras.
Dominguez was indicted on September 13, 2023, and arrested the following day. He pleaded guilty to the charges on January 24, 2024.
Arrests in El Paso Related to Smuggling Plot
In a separate case, the FBI announced the arrest of four individuals in El Paso, Texas, connected to a plot to smuggle undocumented immigrants across the border. Agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit observed suspicious activities at a motel known for housing undocumented foreigners.
They noticed a vehicle with a temporary license plate making repeated visits to the motel. After observing three individuals leave a motel room and enter another car, agents apprehended the driver, Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, who admitted to being in the U.S. illegally. His companions, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo and Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, were also arrested for their illegal status.
The investigation revealed seven additional undocumented individuals in the motel room, all of whom were arrested. As agents concluded their investigation, they saw Jesus David Reyes-Villagran returning to the motel, where he allegedly claimed ownership of the room and admitted to dropping off five other undocumented migrants at another location.
If convicted, Aguilar-Flores, Carrillo-Carrillo, Lopez-Acevedo, and Reyes-Villagran could face up to 10 years in prison for their roles in the smuggling operation. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
Illegal Re-entry Charges for Honduran Citizen
Additionally, federal officials arrested Melvin Armando Funes-Canales, a Honduran citizen, on charges related to illegal re-entry into the U.S. Court records indicate that Funes-Canales was found in the Williamson County jail around July 16, 2024, on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. He had been previously deported from the U.S. on October 9, 2020, and had a history of multiple re-entries and criminal convictions, including burglary and grand theft.
Funes-Canales faces charges for illegal re-entry, which could also result in a sentence of up to 10 years if he is found guilty. His sentencing will similarly be determined by a federal district court judge based on relevant legal factors.
These cases highlight ongoing enforcement efforts by federal authorities to address illegal immigration and related criminal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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