CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A commercial truck driver has been sentenced to federal prison for smuggling aliens and possession of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
50-year-old Fabian Alvarado, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to serve a 120-month sentence followed by five years of supervised release. Alvarado pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 27. The court hearing revealed Alvarado’s extensive criminal history, including prior federal convictions for drug trafficking and alien smuggling.
The case dates back to Dec. 9, 2022, when Alvarado drove a tractor-trailer into the inspection lane of the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. Authorities noted Alvarado’s suspicious behavior during the routine inspection, and a K-9 unit alerted to his vehicle.
Upon further inspection, law enforcement found five aliens concealed in the sleeper portion of the tractor. They also discovered a bag containing 45 grams of meth and a firearm, along with Alvarado’s wallet, in the passenger seat. The glove compartment held cellular phones and identification documents taken from the aliens.
“Today’s prison sentence sends a resounding message to human smugglers and drug traffickers everywhere who believe they can circumvent our nation’s laws without detection or penalty,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Corpus Christi Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Hein.
Alvarado will remain in custody until his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which is yet to be determined. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of Border Patrol, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr.
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