Francisco Javier Diaz Sentenced to 41 Months for Alien Smuggling

Francisco Javier Diaz, 35, of Houston, was sentenced Feb. 4, 2026 to 41 months in federal prison in Del Rio after pleading guilty to conspiring to transport illegal aliens. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons and was imposed in federal court in Del Rio, where Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presided.

Federal authorities say Diaz was arrested May 3, 2024 at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Eagle Pass while he was waiting in the inspection lane of his commercial semitruck. A government canine alerted agents to the sleeper compartment, and a subsequent inspection revealed five people concealed under the mattress and a sixth person hidden in a compartment on the side of the bed. All six passengers were determined to be illegal aliens, and investigators say Diaz was transporting them from Eagle Pass to Houston.

Diaz pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2024 to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. The investigation was conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte. The U.S. Attorney’s Office tied the prosecution to Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

For Val Verde County residents, the case underscores the role of the Eagle Pass checkpoint in intercepting smuggling attempts and the scrutiny that commercial freight traffic can face at border inspection points. Local trucking operators and owner-operators who move freight through Eagle Pass may see heightened attention from federal enforcement as agencies continue coordinated efforts. The discovery of six people concealed in the sleeper compartment also highlights the human risks involved when people are hidden in confined spaces in commercial vehicles.

Court filings supplied to reporters did not include public details about any additional penalties such as supervised release, fines, or restitution, nor did they specify the nationalities or subsequent immigration outcomes for the six passengers. The U.S. Attorney’s announcement provided the core facts of arrest, plea, and sentence and pointed to broader enforcement priorities under the DOJ initiative.

The sentencing closes this chapter of the case against Francisco Javier Diaz, but it also signals continued federal focus on smuggling and cross-border operations in Val Verde County. Local officials and commercial carriers should expect similar investigations to continue, and community members seeking more detail can look to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and court records for further public information as it becomes available.