EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A federal grand jury has leveled conspiracy charges at a San Elizario, Texas, woman linked by authorities to at least six migrant smuggling events in El Paso and New Mexico.
Wednesday’s indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas comes a month after federal agents took Andra Gutierrez into custody in connection with a migrant stash house on the 7000 block of North Loop Drive in El Paso.
The caretaker of the stash house played a crucial role in the investigation, allegedly showing federal agents private messages sent by Gutierrez through a social media app discussing housing the migrants. The caretaker also allegedly showed agents evidence of payments from Gutierrez for operating the stash house.
A federal complaint affidavit details additional migrant-smuggling incidents between March 2021 and January 2024 in which Gutierrez was identified as the “coordinator,” or a vehicle registered under her name allegedly was used by smugglers.
In one of those, Gutierrez was found in a vehicle driven by an unauthorized migrant who tried to drive through the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 10. Gutierrez said the migrant was giving her a ride because her vehicle broke down.
In another incident, Gutierrez was a passenger in a Nissan Titan that crossed the checkpoint multiple times and was finally stopped by border agents for questioning. One of the two female occupants allegedly admitted to having “scouted” the checkpoint on previous occasions, but “not now.”
Drug and migrant smugglers often use “scout” drivers that go through law enforcement checkpoints and communicate to them whether the checkpoint is staffed or if the officers are checking every vehicle or asking too many questions.
The agents stopped a Hyundai sedan shortly after, and records showed that they had followed the Nissan through the checkpoint on previous occasions. The Hyundai was carrying four unauthorized migrants.
Gutierrez’s name came up again during a 2024 incident involving a Kia Optima carrying six unauthorized migrants – including some in the trunk. Border agents stopped the vehicle on its way to Albuquerque and allegedly linked the car back to Gutierrez.
In addition to charging her with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, the grand jury’s decision to green-light a U.S. Attorney’s Office petition to seek the forfeiture of any vehicles or properties the defendant used in committing the offense underscores the severity of the legal consequences Gutierrez may face.
