Alleged Human Smuggler Known as “Monstro” Indicted in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas - A federal grand jury in El Paso returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Mexican national living in El Paso with three counts related to his alleged human smuggling.

According to court documents, Manuel Alejandro Melendez-Cereceres aka "Monstro," 40, allegedly operated as a facilitator on the United States side of human smuggling events, within the Western District of Texas and the District of New Mexico. His alleged roles include recruiting and coordinating drivers and vehicles to pick up smuggled aliens for the purpose of transporting them to residences or hotels for harboring or to other locations be picked up by an additional driver.

Melendez-Cereceres was arrested and made his initial court appearance on June 20 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert F. Castaneda of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Myers and Mathew Engelbaum are prosecuting the case.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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