Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents arrested the mastermind behind a series of failed human smuggling attempts using what authorities call “hot shot drivers” after opening an investigation into the matter in October.
Ubaldo Diaz was charged with bringing in and harboring people illegally present in the United States and conspiring with other persons known and unknown to transport, move or attempt to transport or move such people.
According to a criminal complaint, the investigation began Oct. 10 after one “hot shot driver” was arrested at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint after 10 people were found inside a hollowed out portable light plant on a flatbed trailer.
“A hot shot driver is a transportation service that delivers small, time-sensitive loads that need to be delivered within a specific timeframe,” the complaint said. “Most hot shot truckers are freelance owner-operators who own their vehicles and find their loads on load boards and/or leases.”
Driver 1, who willingly cooperated with the investigation, provided documentation of the delivery load and the contact information of his company for further investigation.
He also identified Diaz in a photo lineup as the person who made arrangements for the light plant to be picked up in Weslaco and delivered to Robstown, Texas.
Driver 1 added that he had delivered a portable light plant in a similar fashion on four prior occasions, which included the same pick up and drop off locations.
On Oct. 25, another hot shot driver, identified as Driver 2 in the complaint, was arrested in Falfurrias when agents discovered another hollowed out portable light plant with four people inside.
The document said the people were concealed in such a way that agents weren’t able to open the doors of the plant from the outside and had to provide them with a multi-tool to cut a ratchet strap that secured the doors from the inside.
Driver 2 cooperated with the investigation by providing documentation of his delivery load and the contact information for the company and Diaz. It matched the contact information Driver 1 had previously provided.
Driver 2 said the portable light plant was to be delivered to Premont, Texas.
The third incident occurred on Nov. 11 when another hot shot driver was arrested in Falfurrias after agents found four people inside large wooden crates on a flatbed trailer.
“The box was drilled shut with several wood screws and nails and had to be pried open with a crowbar and hammer,” the document said. “The large wooden crate was constructed in such a way that the only means to dismantle it was with the use of tools from the outside of the crate.”
Driver 3 also cooperated with authorities and said he spoke to Diaz the day of the pick up in McAllen. That crate was to be delivered to a location nine miles north of Premont, according to the complaint.
Driver 3 added that he had successfully made a similar delivery on Nov. 7.
The final incident occurred at about 10 p.m. on Dec. 10, when the driver of a black and green Peterbilt tractor-trailer carrying a Road Paver machine told agents she was following instructions on her phone.
Agents found four people hiding inside the Road Paver machine during a secondary inspection, the complaint said.
Driver 4 said she began working for Capital Towing LLC on Aug. 29 and was provided the load of the machine by her boss and dispatch, according to the complaint. She added that she was advised to take a picture of the person delivering the Road Paver machine and a picture of his driver’s license, which was issued to Diaz.
“Driver 4 stated Diaz told her that he was going to be driving ahead of her in a new model Dodge Ram that she believed to be tan in color and Diaz was going to be in contact with her during the duration of the job,” the complaint said.
Diaz followed her all the way to the checkpoint, but she lost sight of him as they neared the checkpoint.
One of the men found inside the Road Paver machine told authorities that Diaz threatened them because they were scared of getting inside the machine.
He added that they used a plastic bottle to breathe while inside the machine to try to conserve oxygen inside.
Another man said Diaz told them that the driver of the trailer “did not know they were going to be inside the Road Paver machine, so they needed to be quiet,” and added that he threatened to take one into “the brush and beat him” because they didn’t want to hand their cell phones to him.
The complaint said Diaz had been previously arrested on Aug. 9 when he tried to smuggle a person through the Falfurrias checkpoint while claiming to be their uncle.
An initial appearance for the material witnesses has been set for Tuesday before Judge Jason B. Libby, while nothing had been set for Diaz as of press time Monday, court records indicate.
