High-Speed Chase Results in Extensive Prison Term for Alien Trafficker

U.S. Attorney’s Office
8 January 2015

LAREDO, TX—Felipe Pena, 40, of Laredo, has been ordered to prison for 67 months for transporting illegal aliens for profit, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Pena pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2014.

Pena was arrested at the Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint on U.S. 83 near the 35-mile marker for alien smuggling on Aug. 14, 2014. At that time, Pena had approached the checkpoint in a Ford F-150 vehicle where a BP canine alerted to the presence of humans inside his vehicle.

Pena then accelerated his vehicle and fled the scene, nearly injuring on-duty BP agents. Pena led authorities on a high-speed chase for three miles, reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour. Upon apprehension, agents discovered one female hiding behind the driver’s seat and one male hiding underneath a tool box. Both subjects were illegal aliens and citizens of Honduras and Mexico who had paid Pena for their transportation.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo previously accepted the plea and sentenced Pena to 67 months today, which included an upward variance for almost injuring the officers. The court further noted that Pena is a violent individual and should show respect to law enforcement and the United States of America.

BP, Homeland Security Investigations and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker is prosecuting the case.