The Mexican man, who lives illegally in Rome, Texas, spent more than three years in federal prisons on human smuggling plans, causing conflicts and injuries to some of the 18 undocumented immigrants in the SUV he was driving.
Rome is located in South Texas along the Rio Grande.
Alan Eduardo Mar Burle, 32, pleaded guilty on December 12, 2024, with US attorney Nicholas J. Gunjay, for the Southern District of Texas, said in a news release from McAllen on Tuesday.
US District Judge Drew B. Tipton was sentenced to Mar Barte for 37 months in federal prison. This sentence will soon be released for three years with supervised release.
As he is not a US citizen, Mar-Uballe is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence.
Officials said he has been prior convictions for illegal re-entry into the United States, attacks on federal officials and possession of controlled substances.
“Mr. Marbal’s previous conviction clearly did not discourage him from engaging in dangerous criminal acts,” Gandhi said. “His actions brought life to the law enforcement agencies, innocent drivers and everyone in his car at risk that day.
According to a news release, on October 22, 2024, Mar-Uballe was driving a Ford expedition with the rear seat and seat belt removed near Rome. Inside the vehicle were 18 undocumented immigrants, including two minors with accompaniment.
Law enforcement tried to stop the vehicle, but Marl Burle hurried off and then drove irregularly down the streets of Loma, the news release said. Authorities said he drove a stop sign and ignored the other vehicles before hitting the ditch.
Authorities said several people inside the vehicle were injured.
Authorities determined that Marval and others were illegally in the United States. Undocumented immigrants came from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.
Mar-Uballe will continue to be detained as he is waiting for a transfer to the US Bureau of Prisons and will be decided later.
The US Border Patrol investigated the case and charged US lawyer Amanda McColgan.
The case is part of Take Back America, a nationwide initiative against undocumented immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime.
