Three Fort Hood soldiers charged in human smuggling

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Three Fort Hood soldiers charged in human smuggling
Rose L Thayer | Herald staff writer
Posted: Thursday, October 9, 2014 11:45 pm

BROWNSVILLE — Three Fort Hood soldiers were arrested in an ongoing investigation related to the transporting and harboring of illegal immigrants, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio.

The indictment charges Fort Hood soldiers Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, Brandon Troy Robbins, 20, and Christopher David Wix, 21, as well as a civilian, Arnoldo Gracia, 45, an alleged immigrant smuggler from the Harlingen area. All three soldiers are privates with the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The seven-count indictment was returned Tuesday and fully unsealed Thursday upon the arrests of Rodriguez, Robbins and Wix at Fort Hood.

Civilian arrested

Gracia was arrested Wednesday in Harlingen. He made his initial appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya and was ordered to remain in custody pending a hearing Thursday.