BROWNSVILLE, Texas –
Three Fort Hood soldiers were arrested after an ongoing investigation related to the transporting and harboring of illegal aliens.
Officials said Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, Brandon Troy Robbins, 20, and Christopher David Wix, 21, all active duty soldiers, along with Arnoldo Gracia, 45, from Harlingen, were all named in the indictment that was unsealed Thursday.
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Rodriguez was first arrested Sept. 11 after allegedly trying to smuggle two undocumented aliens past the immigration checkpoint in Sarita. A Homeland Security Investigations agent testified that when Rodriguez's vehicle was searched, the undocumented aliens were found hidden under a bed sheet and military jacket, which had the name tag of Rodriguez. He is also charged in two earlier incidents, which occurred in similar manners as that on Sept. 11.
Robbins is charged with transporting two aliens on April 13 and Wix is charged with transporting two aliens on June 21.
Gracia is alleged to be a member of the smuggling conspiracy. He is charged with aiding and abetting the three soldiers.
If convicted, each of the men faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible fine of $250,000.
"HSI is dedicated to working closely with its law enforcement partners in all arenas in pursuit of identifying, arresting and prosecuting individuals involved in human smuggling, regardless of their position," said HSI agent Janice Ayala. "Today's arrests exemplify the high level of collaboration between HSI and its partners in investigating these cases."