Maverick County Juvenile and Adult arrested for Illegal Alien Smuggling after high-speed chase

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2014 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber announced that Maverick County Sheriff Deputies and federal agents arrested a 16 year-old Maverick County juvenile and an adult, Leonel Ricardo Artola, age 24 years old, of Conroe, Texas on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, for transporting undocumented aliens after leading agents on a high speed chase from Kinney County to the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2.

Federal agents attempted to stop Leonel Ricardo Artola, Jr., the driver of a Toyota Scion, on FM 181 in Kinney County, Texas on an immigration check, but Artola fled and led the federal agents on a high-speed chase into Eagle Pass, Texas during the early morning hours. Artola drove to the Eagle Pass International Bridge together with the juvenile and four undocumented aliens and attempted to cross into Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, but Mexican authorities did not allow Artola to enter into Mexico forcing him to return to the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 where he was detained and arrested by agents.

Artola was accompanied by a juvenile accomplice from Eagle Pass and four El Salvadoran undocumented aliens, said Sheriff Schmerber. Artola and the juvenile were arrested. Local law enforcement authorities have noticed an increase of local juveniles being recruited and used in illegal activities such as drug smuggling or undocumented alien smuggling.

Artola appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Collis White for an initial court appearance on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, in federal district court in Del Rio, Texas.

Sheriff Schmerber stated that Maverick County citizens should report all suspicious activities to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department at (830) 773-2321 or the Eagle Pass Police Department at (830) 773-9044 or Dial 911.