El Paso Man Charged After Stash House Discovery Linked to Smuggling Operation

ALBUQUERQUE - An El Paso man has been charged in connection with an alleged alien smuggling operation after federal agents uncovered a stash house containing sixteen undocumented individuals following a failed smuggling attempt.

According to court records, on February 13, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a failed alien smuggling attempt involving a tractor trailer carrying nineteen undocumented individuals at the Las Cruces Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 25. Through interviews and investigative findings, agents identified a suspected stash house at a residence in El Paso, Texas.

On February 26, 2026, agents executed the search warrant at the residence and encountered approximately sixteen undocumented individuals inside. All stated they were not citizens of the United States and did not possess lawful immigration documents. The individuals were transported to the El Paso Border Patrol Station for processing.

During subsequent interviews, two material witnesses identified Crescencio Pacheco Olvera, 37, as the caretaker of the stash house and as a transport driver involved in the smuggling operation. One witness stated that after illegally entering the United States through a hole cut in the international border fence near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, they were transported to the El Paso residence by Pacheco Olvera.

Pacheco Olvera is charged with conspiracy to harbor, transport, and bring in undocumented individuals and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Pacheco Olvera faces up to 10 years in prison.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.

HSI Las Cruces investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha V. Henson is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.