Mexican National Charged for Attempted Bribery of US Border Patrol Agent
A Mexican citizen faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent after being apprehended for unlawfully entering the country once again.
Court records indicate that on February 8, 2025, authorities arrested 29-year-old Samuel Mendoza-Torres along with another individual near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station. While being transported to the station, Mendoza-Torres reportedly asked the agent, “Can we fix this?” before offering $400 in an attempt to avoid jail.
During an interview following his arrest, Mendoza-Torres admitted to facilitating illegal crossings from Mexico into the U.S. He also acknowledged that bribing a Border Patrol agent was against the law.
Mendoza-Torres remains in custody as he awaits trial, for which a date has not yet been set. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Raul Bujanda—Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office—and Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol in conjunction with the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI.
Other Recent Arrests
Federal authorities have also been actively pursuing other criminal cases.
In one such instance, a Texas man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for interfering with law enforcement.
“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 statement continued.
In a separate case, four individuals were taken into custody in El Paso, Texas, on charges linked to an alleged human smuggling operation.
According to court documents, agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit were monitoring a local motel when they noticed a vehicle with a temporary license plate. The car had reportedly been seen at multiple hotels known to house undocumented individuals. Surveillance footage showed the driver briefly entering the motel lobby before quickly leaving.
Shortly after, agents allegedly witnessed three individuals cautiously exit one of the motel rooms and get into another vehicle, which also had a temporary plate. The driver, identified as Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, later admitted to being a Mexican national residing unlawfully in the U.S.
Two other individuals, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo and Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, were also detained after being found in the country illegally. They later confirmed that additional undocumented migrants were inside the motel room.
A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of seven more undocumented individuals, all of whom were arrested. Meanwhile, agents observed the driver of the first vehicle returning to the motel, where he approached the room in question and knocked on the door.
Authorities identified the individual as Jesus David Reyes-Villagran. He allegedly admitted that the motel room was his and that he had just returned from dropping off five other undocumented individuals at another hotel in El Paso.
Aguilar-Flores, Carrillo-Carrillo, Lopez-Acevedo, and Reyes-Villagran are all accused of smuggling and transporting noncitizens. If convicted, each could face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
A federal district court judge will determine their sentences based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
Meanwhile, federal authorities also apprehended a Honduran national who had previously been deported following criminal convictions. The individual was recently taken into custody in Austin on charges related to his alleged unlawful re-entry.
According to court records, Melvin Armando Funes-Canales was located at the Williamson County jail on or around July 16, 2024.