La Joya police arrested a 31-year-old man last week who they say is affiliated with a cartel and helped smuggle and harbor people after the driver involved in a fatal rollover in late June spoke to police.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Ivan “El Muñeco” Rios, who was in communication with the 24-year-old driver of the fatal rollover, Alexis Hernandez Pino. Rios allegedly told Pino to flee the scene after the rollover had occurred.
Rios was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of smuggling of persons resulting in serious bodily injury or death.
Jail records show that Pino was charged with two counts of murder, three counts of smuggling of persons resulting in serious bodily injury or death and several other charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the criminal complaint, Pino was questioned after the third victim in the rollover died from their injuries and explained that Rios was his boss and had been living with him for a few months.
Pino added that he was a “coyote” or guide from Mexico.
Pino told investigators that Rios ordered him to flee law enforcement and go toward an area with heavy brush and orchards near his residence at 9103 Abram Road.
Before the crash, Pino said, Rios was driving a red 2016 Mercedes and told him the pickup location for the three victims was clear of any law enforcement the day of the incident.
But an unmarked police vehicle patrolling an area near FM 2221 noticed a suspicious green Ford Expedition slowly stopping just north of Allan Romo Street.
“The officers then noticed several subjects running across F.M. 2221 and getting into the green Expedition,” the document said.
A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended around the 8-mile line mark after Pino, who was speeding, lost control of the vehicle as he headed north on Abram Road and arrived at a part of the street that was unpaved.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene and two others later died from their injuries.
During the interview with Pino, he told police that the red Mercedes was registered to Rios’ wife and identified his boss through a photo lineup provided to him the day of his statement.
Police executed an arrest warrant for Rios last Friday in the early morning hours. Rios tried to evade police by foot and headed south on Abram Road.
He was later detained in a canal near his residence as he tried to hide from law enforcement. He was taken into custody and transported to the La Joya Police Department, pending his arraignment.
According to jail records, Rios remains jailed on $3 million in bonds, while Pino remains jailed on $2.75 million.
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