DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in Carrizo Springs apprehended two convicted sex offenders on last week.
The Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from agents at the Carrizo Springs Station at approximately 10:30 a.m., March 10, during a traffic stop they had conducted on Highway 85, northeast of Carrizo Springs. Upon arrival at the traffic stop agents were able to identify four undocumented immigrants. They subsequently took custody of the driver and undocumented immigrants. Agents identified the driver as Scott David Pratt, 33, a United States citizen. During processing agents discovered he had previously been convicted of “aggravated sexual assault of a child” in Fort Worth, Texas. Pratt also has other prior convictions for theft, burglary, assault, evading arrest, possession of marijuana, and traffic offenses. He will be charged with alien smuggling – 8 USC 1324 – and will be transferred to the Val Verde Detention Center pending his trial.
Later that day, agents assigned to the Carrizo Springs Station apprehended Jose Anibal Carballo-Cruz, 34, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. During processing, agents discovered that Carballo-Cruz had been convicted for “aggravated sexual assault” in Houston. Carballo-Cruz was also convicted of “failure to comply with sex offender registration” in 2007 and was subsequently deported. Carballo-Cruz will be charged with illegal re-entry – 8 USC 1326 – and his prior order of removal will be reinstated.
“The apprehension of these two convicted sex offenders demonstrates the vigilance of our agents in protecting our communities” said Rodolfo Karisch, Chief Patrol Agent, Del Rio Sector.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. So far during Fiscal Year 2014, which began Oct. 1, 2013, Del Rio Sector agents have apprehended 16 sex offenders. During FY13, Del Rio Sector agents apprehended 18 previously deported sex offenders. Compared to the previous fiscal year to date, sex offender arrests are on a rise in the Del Rio Sector area of responsibility.