Two arrested in separate smuggling incidents

A man and woman were arrested with separate alleged charges of smuggling of persons over the past week by the Young County Sheriff's Office. Juan Carlos Maldonado-Martinez, 23, of Mexico and Damaris Patricia Lopez-Alberto, 24, of Honduras were arrested in separate incidents.

According to a release from YCSO Chief Deputy John Orr, a deputy with YCSO stopped a Toyota 4 Runner at Hwy. 114 and Hwy. 16 for a defective tail light on Saturday, Nov. 5. The vehicle, driven by Martinez, was also occupied by two males who, Orr wrote, had conflicting stories regarding their destinations and points of origin.

After further investigation, it was determined that Martinez was smuggling the other two men across the state for a fee. The two other occupants were identified through the Young County Blotter and Young County Jail Roster as Noe Angel Galindo Escobar, 22, of Guatemala and Yorling Jesus Aguilar, 41, of Nicaragua. According to the release, both passengers were placed on a detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE has since taken custody of both as of Monday, Nov. 7.

Martinez remains in the Young County Jail on the alleged charges of smuggling of persons and fraudulent use/possession of identifying information. He is being held on a total bond amount of $42,500.

In a separate arrest on Monday, Nov. 7, a YCSO deputy stopped a black Ford Explorer at Hwy 114 and FM-2178 for speeding, according to a release from Chief Deputy Orr. The vehicle, driven by Lopez-Alberto, was occupied by five males, two females and a four-year-old child.

For the full story, see the Saturday, Nov. 12 edition of The Graham Leader.