ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – Indictments unsealed Wednesday by the 81st Judicial District Attorney's Office in Atascosa County reveal details into the activity of an alleged human trafficking ring.
A total of 29 people were indicted, with eight of those people yet to be arrested.
Eleven of the indictments were unsealed Wednesday, detailing some of the 86 charges that have been filed.
Victor Gamez Melendez is the only person to be charged with human smuggling. The rest facecharges for alleged theft, organized criminal activity and money laundering.
It appears from the indictments that those arrested were involved in an organized theft ring, stealing cars from at least nine different people and using them to smuggle people.
According to the indictment, four victims who were concealed in the stolen cars could have suffered "serious bodily injury or death."
District Attorney René Peña said the main goal for crime operations like this is profit and these defendants exploit people to make money.