Federal agents say stolen cars fueled Mexican cartel ops via El Paso

A cross-border pipeline of stolen vehicles allegedly supplied Mexican cartels with cars and trucks to support their criminal operations, federal authorities say, with 13 people now facing charges in the scheme.

The vehicles were stolen from private owners and major rental car companies before being driven through El Paso, Texas, and across the border into Mexico, where they were allegedly used to support the cartels’ daily operations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

Authorities have recovered 29 vehicles worth an estimated $1.14 million as part of the investigation, dubbed Operation Southbound Takedown, prosecutors said.

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Ryan G. McRae, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, said the stolen vehicles reveal a pattern of criminal activity extending beyond auto theft.

“These are not isolated property crimes,” McRae said. “The stolen vehicles related to Operation Southbound Takedown demonstrate an alarming pattern and are used to support the day-to-day operations of dangerous criminal organizations.”

Photos released by prosecutors showed a damaged white SUV recovered in Mexico, as well as an armored black SUV and an armored pickup truck.

Federal agents and prosecutors began investigating in the spring after identifying a pattern of stolen vehicles being transported to individuals allegedly connected to criminal organizations in Mexico, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

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Authorities released a photo of an armored SUV recovered during an investigation into stolen vehicles allegedly transported from the U.S. to criminal organizations in Mexico. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas)

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons warned people considering transporting stolen vehicles into Mexico that cartels are exploiting individuals looking to make a “quick buck” to further their criminal operations.

Those operations, he said, include “human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, and even murder.”

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“You are now on notice,” Simmons said. “If you provide support to these cartels, many of which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, by transporting stolen vehicles out of this country and into Mexico, we will find you, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Of the 13 people charged, 11 are U.S. citizens and two are Mexican citizens, prosecutors said. One of the Mexican citizens has a lawful permanent resident card, while the other has a border crossing card.

Two of the Americans, Kimberly Aguilar and Marty Gerardo Jr., are in state custody. The other 11 people were federally indicted and arrested between July 22 and Oct. 19, according to prosecutors.

All 13 are charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. The charges are allegations, and each person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

An armored black pickup truck recovered as part of Operation Southbound Takedown. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas)

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and other federal, state and local agencies working through the Homeland Security Task Force.

McRae said authorities worked with private-sector partners to disrupt the alleged vehicle theft and transportation network as part of an investigation spanning the United States and Mexico.

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“This work is ongoing; we’re not stopping here,” he said.

FBI El Paso acting Special Agent in Charge Coult W. Markovsky also had a warning for people helping cartels.

“To individuals assisting the cartels, Justice will find you!” he said.