DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Comstock and Eagle Pass stations arrested two convicted sex offenders with extensive criminal histories who had previously been removed from the United States.
“These arrests serve to remind us of the serious nature of the crimes previously committed by people who were illegally present in the United States,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Felix Chavez. “I congratulate the agents who were able to interdict these men and prevent them from committing more crimes on our soil.”
On Jan. 28, an agent assigned to the Comstock Station apprehended Hector Vargas-Pineda, 41, who was in the United States illegally. During processing, agents discovered that Vargas-Pineda was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in Denton County, on May 22, 1997, and was sentenced to serve five years in prison. He was deported to Mexico on Aug. 9, 2002.
In an unrelated incident, on Jan. 30, agents assigned to the Eagle Pass Station apprehended 41-year-old Santos Sanchez-Diaz, who also was illegally present in the United States. During processing, records checks revealed that Sanchez-Diaz was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, a third-degree felony, in Dodge County, Minnesota, on Aug. 16, 1999. He served a portion of his four-year prison sentence before being returned to Mexico on Aug. 15, 2001.
Vargas-Pineda and Sanchez-Diaz both face a charge of 8 USC § 1326 – illegal reentry after deportation – which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Their prior orders of removal will be reinstated.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.
