Mexican National Charged for Attempted Bribery of US Border Patrol Agent
A Mexican national is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent after being apprehended while unlawfully crossing into the United States once again.
Court records indicate that on February 8, 2025, 29-year-old Samuel Mendoza-Torres was detained alongside another individual near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station. During transport to the station, Mendoza-Torres reportedly asked the agent, “Can we fix this?” and offered $400 in exchange for his release.
Following his arrest, Mendoza-Torres confessed to assisting individuals in illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico. He also admitted to being aware that bribing a Border Patrol agent was a criminal offense.
Mendoza-Torres remains in custody awaiting trial, with no court date yet set. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque Field Office, and Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector.
The case is under investigation by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Las Cruces Resident Agency.
Federal authorities have been actively pursuing significant arrests in recent weeks.
A federal court in Del Rio sentenced a Texas resident to 18 months in prison for obstructing law enforcement officers.
“According to court documents, Kevin Dominguez, 26, drove a sedan to the U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint, located on U.S. Highway 57, on Aug. 1, 2023. A USBP canine alerted the agents to the trunk, revealing an individual inside. Upon the USBP agent noticing the individual, Dominguez backed up and struck the agent with the vehicle before fleeing the checkpoint,” the FBI stated in a press release.
“A high-speed chase ensued and a USBP helicopter observed two occupants exit the vehicle into an open field. One of the individuals was located and confirmed to be an undocumented noncitizen from Honduras. Dominguez was indicted in a two-count indictment on Sept. 13, 2023, and was arrested on Sept. 14. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2024,” the release continued.
In a separate case, the FBI reported that four individuals were arrested in El Paso, Texas, for their alleged involvement in a human smuggling operation.
Court documents reveal that agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit were monitoring a motel in El Paso when they spotted a vehicle with a temporary license plate. The car had previously been seen at multiple locations known to house undocumented individuals. Surveillance showed the driver briefly entering the motel lobby before leaving.
Shortly after, agents allegedly observed three individuals carefully exiting a motel room and entering another vehicle with a temporary license plate. The driver, identified as Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, reportedly admitted to being a Mexican citizen residing in the U.S. unlawfully.
Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo and Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, who were with him, were also arrested for being in the U.S. illegally. They informed authorities that additional undocumented individuals were inside the motel room.
Further investigation led to the discovery of seven more undocumented individuals, all of whom were taken into custody. While agents were concluding their operation, they saw the driver of the first vehicle return to the motel. He approached the room where the undocumented individuals had been staying and knocked on the door.
Jesus David Reyes-Villagran allegedly told authorities that he had rented the motel room and had just returned from dropping off five other undocumented individuals at another location in El Paso.
Aguilar-Flores, Carrillo-Carrillo, Lopez-Acevedo, and Reyes-Villagran face charges related to transporting and harboring undocumented individuals. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine their sentences based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
In another case, authorities arrested a Honduran national with a prior criminal record who had reentered the U.S. illegally.
Court records indicate that Melvin Armando Funes-Canales was found in custody at the Williamson County jail on or around July 16, 2024.
He had been detained on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. Further investigation revealed that Funes-Canales had been deported from the U.S. on or around October 9, 2020, and had previously been removed on five other occasions.
Funes-Canales also has prior convictions for burglary, grand theft, and illegal reentry.
He now faces a charge of illegal reentry, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.