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A former member of the Texas National Guard who worked along the US-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star has been found guilty of conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Operation Lone Star is a Texas-led border security initiative launched in 2021 by Governor Greg Abbott to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling along the US-Mexico border. The operation combines efforts from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, deploying thousands of state troopers and Guardsmen to support local and federal law enforcement. Its core strategy includes increased patrols, vehicle inspections, and surveillance in high-traffic smuggling areas, as well as the arrest and detention of illegal immigrants under state trespassing laws. The National Guard’s role specifically involves logistical support, monitoring and securing border zones, assisting with barrier construction, and gathering intelligence on cartel activity. As of now, the operation is slowly being scaled back following President Trump’s return to office and more enforcement efforts from the federal government’s side related to the border.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, 27-year-old Mario Sandoval, a former member of the Texas National Guard, was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. The verdict came in after jurors deliberated for less than an hour before reaching a unanimous decision. Sandoval, who had been deployed to the Rio Grande Valley as part of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border enforcement initiative, used his experience and access in the area to facilitate the illegal transportation of migrants after his deployment ended.
During the trial, prosecutors presented a series of incriminating text messages retrieved from Sandoval’s phone, in which he coordinated with others to recruit drivers for smuggling routes that bypassed immigration checkpoints. Surveillance footage also placed him at one of these checkpoints at the same time he was sending messages alerting others about law enforcement and K-9 unit activity in the area (evidence that prosecutors say proves he was actively assisting smugglers in real time).
In his defense, Sandoval’s legal team claimed that the texts were taken out of context and that no organized conspiracy existed. However, the jury rejected those claims, siding with the prosecution’s assertion that Sandoval had deliberately participated in a coordinated smuggling operation.
In a statement following the verdict, US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said, “The conduct in this case represents an unthinkable violation of public trust. Thousands of brave men and women, military and civilian alike, work tirelessly to keep our border secure. It is truly disheartening that one bad apple chose to betray his fellow soldiers, his fellow citizens, and his country by engaging in human smuggling. I wish to thank the jury for their time and attention to this matter.”
He now faces up to ten years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for October 22.
