A U.S. District Court in Texas has found a former National Guard member guilty of conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States.
Mario Sandoval, who once served with the Texas National Guard under Operation Lone Star, began his illicit activities in July 2024, as detailed in a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As reported by The Hill, the trial, which lasted a single day on July 21, featured evidence from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Text messages retrieved from Sandoval's phone revealed his search for drivers to transport individuals from the Rio Grande Valley beyond immigration checkpoints.
Additionally, video footage showed Sandoval at an immigration checkpoint while he texted about "law enforcement and K-9 presence." Investigators assert that financial gain was the primary motivator behind Sandoval's actions. Chad Plantz, a special agent with HSI Houston, remarked, "His actions directly undermined the very mission he was deployed to support and put his fellow guard members in danger."
Sandoval, who was discharged from the Texas National Guard in October 2024, is now facing a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing set for October 22. His defense contended that no conspiracy existed and that his text messages were misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell noted during a July 2 press conference that 4,200 National Guardsmen are currently on state active duty in Texas as part of Operation Lone Star.
Sandoval's case is linked to Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations. This case underscores the importance of maintaining integrity within the ranks of those tasked with safeguarding the nation's borders.
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