EL PASO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Western), published as received.
EL PASO, Texas – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in serious bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Manuel Alejandro Melendez-Cereceres aka “Monstro,” 42, was a member of an alien smuggling organization. In his role, Melendez-Cereceres recruited and coordinated drivers and vehicles to transport smuggled aliens either to harboring locations or to exchange points where the aliens would be picked up by an additional driver and transported further into the United States.
On May 15, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents in Tornillo interdicted a smuggling event and apprehended a foot guide. During the smuggling event led by the guide, one of the illegal aliens being smuggled fell from a fence and suffered serious bodily injuries which led to surgery for a right hip socket fracture, a right hip joint fracture, a sacral fracture and a right heel bone fracture. Through a search of the foot guide’s cell phone, agents discovered communications between the guide and Melendez-Cereceres.
Melendez-Cereceres was arrested at his residence in June 2025 and indicted for four counts related to alien smuggling. On June 11, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in serious bodily injury. In addition to the nine-year federal prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone also ordered a money judgement in the amount of $672,101.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case.
The case is supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 483 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 436 U.S. convictions; and more than 371 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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