Fredi Zagala-Servin, 40, of Kaufman, Texas, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport undocumented noncitizens. Zagala-Servin was identified as a leader and organizer of a human smuggling organization (HSO) that operated between Laredo and San Antonio, according to court documents.
Zagala-Servin's involvement in the conspiracy included coordinating with accomplices in Mexico to arrange pick-up locations for tractor trailers to load migrants in Laredo. He would then oversee the transportation and communicate updates between the parties involved. Court records reveal Zagala-Servin's participation in at least 10 human smuggling events for financial gain with the HSO. He was taken into custody on June 23, 2022, and has remained in federal custody since then.
The investigation, initiated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Division in May 2021, uncovered at least 19 human smuggling events involving over 900 individuals linked to the HSO. Between May 2021 and June 2022, HSI interdicted nine tractor trailers operated by the HSO, carrying undocumented noncitizens. These trailers transported between 30 to over 100 migrants per trip.
In addition to imprisonment, Zagala-Servin was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a money judgment of $410,250.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas emphasized the significance of holding individuals like Zagala-Servin accountable for endangering lives for profit, commending the investigative efforts of HSI and Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA).
Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio Division echoed Esparza's sentiments, stating that this sentencing underscores the government's aggressive stance against human smuggling and its commitment to dismantling such criminal organizations.
The case was investigated by HSI and JTFA.
