13 Charged in $1.14 Million Stolen Vehicle Pipeline to Mexico

Federal prosecutors filed charges against 13 individuals on October 27, alleging they ran a cross-border network that moved stolen vehicles from Texas to Mexican cartels. The operation, dubbed Operation Southbound Takedown, targets a supply chain that provided the criminal organizations with essential transportation for their daily activities. The recovered assets are valued at an estimated $1.14 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

The scheme involved stealing cars and trucks from private owners and major rental car companies. Agents tracked the vehicles as they were driven through El Paso, Texas, and across the border. Prosecutors state that the vehicles were not merely sold for profit but were used to support specific cartel operations, including human smuggling, extortion, and drug trafficking. This utilization distinguishes the case from standard auto theft, linking the property crimes directly to the logistics of organized crime.

Authorities have recovered 29 vehicles to date. The inventory includes a damaged white SUV found in Mexico, an armored black SUV, and an armored pickup truck. Ryan G. McRae, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, said the pattern demonstrates that the stolen vehicles support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations. He noted that the investigation involved a wide coalition of federal, state, and local agencies working through the Homeland Security Task Force.

The 13 defendants consist of 11 U.S. citizens and two Mexican citizens. One of the Mexican nationals holds a lawful permanent resident card, while the other possesses a border crossing card. Two Americans, Kimberly Aguilar and Marty Gerardo Jr., are currently in state custody. The remaining 11 individuals were federally indicted and arrested between July 22 and October 19. All 13 face charges for interstate transportation of stolen property, a federal offense carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said cartels exploit individuals seeking quick financial gains to further their criminal reach. He warned that those transporting stolen vehicles out of the country are now on notice. Simmons stated that prosecutors will find and prosecute those supporting cartels, many of which are designated as foreign terrorist organizations. The investigation began in the spring after agents identified a consistent pattern of vehicles moving to individuals connected to these groups.

The case remains active as agents continue to work with private-sector partners to disrupt the network. McRae said the work is ongoing and that authorities are not stopping. The investigation spans both the United States and Mexico, with the goal of dismantling the logistics that allow these groups to operate across the border.