A Mexican national, Samuel Mendoza-Torres, is facing federal charges after allegedly attempting to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent following his arrest for illegally entering the United States.
According to court documents, the 29-year-old was detained on February 8, 2025, near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station along with another individual. While being transported to the station, Mendoza-Torres reportedly asked the agent, “Can we fix this?” and offered $400 in an attempt to avoid jail.
During a post-arrest interview, Mendoza-Torres admitted to assisting others in crossing illegally from Mexico into the United States. He also acknowledged that he knew offering money to the Border Patrol agent was against the law.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Mendoza-Torres will remain in custody until his trial date, which has not yet been set. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and the FBI’s Las Cruces Resident Agency. The charges were formally announced by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda, and Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar of the El Paso Border Patrol Sector.
Other Border-Related Incidents
In a separate case, a Texas man, Kevin Dominguez, 26, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for assaulting and interfering with law enforcement officers.
According to official reports, on August 1, 2023, Dominguez arrived at a Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on U.S. Highway 57, where a canine alerted officers to the presence of a concealed individual in the trunk of his vehicle. When confronted, Dominguez attempted to flee, reversing his car and striking an agent before leading authorities on a high-speed chase.
Aerial support from a Border Patrol helicopter later observed two individuals fleeing Dominguez’s vehicle into an open field. One was apprehended and identified as an undocumented citizen from Honduras. Dominguez was arrested in September 2023 and later pleaded guilty in January 2024.
Smuggling Investigation in El Paso
Meanwhile, in El Paso, Texas, four individuals were arrested following an investigation into suspected human smuggling activities.
Agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit were monitoring a local motel when they identified a vehicle with a temporary license plate that had been linked to multiple hotels known for harboring undocumented individuals. This led to the arrests and the launch of further investigations into organized smuggling operations in the area.
Authorities continue to prioritize efforts aimed at ensuring border security and public safety while investigating incidents of illegal crossings and related criminal activities.