Update From America's Unspoken War

Jan. 6, 2013

Immigrant's 18-wheeler death leads feds to Mission couple

Authorities are dismantling a human smuggling organization after a Guatemalan immigrant was hit and killed by an 18-wheeler.

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents used cell phones social media to find a couple who are believed to be part of the ring.

HSI agents raided an apartment off Moorefield Road and Mile 7 North in Mission early Friday morning.

Neighbors did not want to talk on camera but told Action 4 News that two men and a woman were taken in custody.

Federal court records show the raid was done in connection to the death of Tomas Vasquez-Hurarchar.

The Guatemalan immigrant, who went by the nickname "Alex Tomas," was killed about 160 miles away in the town of Riviera.

It all happened just two days before Christmas when a smuggler and several immigrants bailed out of a car.

U.S. Border Patrol agents reported that an 18-wheeler hit and killed Vasquez while he was fleeing across U.S. Highway 77.

A cell phone belonging to one of the suspected smugglers led investigators to another cell phone registered to people living at the apartment in Mission.

But information on the cell phone also led to a Facebook page belonging to Daniel Hernandez-Reyes.

Court records show that both he and his common-law wife Miriam Galvan-Cuellar were deported back in July 2012 but were living at the apartment complex.

HSI agents believe both of them received hundreds of dollars in MoneyGram and Western Union payments from the people across the United States.

Investigators believe those payments were from the families of illegal immigrants paying a smuggling fee.

Federal court records show that Hernandez-Reyes is facing a human smuggling charge while Galvan-Cuellar is facing an illegal immigration charge.

Investigators are working to identify the other members of organization on both sides of the border.

Anyone with information about the case or other smuggling activity is asked to call the Border Patrol 1-800-BE-ALERT or (800) 863-9392.

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