Mexican National Charged With Illegally Transporting Undocumented Aliens Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Dateline: Jacksonville, Florida Date: 7 February 2025 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Interstate Highway System

Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Maria Lopez-Vega (51, Mexico) with being paid to transport undocumented aliens to further their illegal presence in the United States. If convicted, Lopez-Vega faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, on February 3, 2025, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper stopped an SUV on Interstate-75 for a traffic violation. Lopez-Vega was driving the SUV, which contained five passengers. Lopez-Vega provided the Trooper with a photograph of her Mexican passport. Because the Trooper suspected that Lopez-Vega was unlawfully present in the United States and was transporting aliens who were unlawfully present in the United States, he contacted U.S. Border Patrol agents for assistance. At the scene, the agents questioned Lopez-Vega and at least one of the passengers about their citizenship and immigration status. Lopez-Vega stated that she was a citizen of Mexico and did not have legal authorization to be in the United States. It was also determined that the five passengers were illegally present in the United States and were citizens of Mexico, Honduras, and/or Guatemala. During later questioning, Lopez-Vega told agents that she received payment to transport the aliens from Texas to Florida. Two of the passengers stated they entered the United States illegally and had paid for assistance in crossing the Mexican border and being transported to Florida.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

Updated February 7, 2025