RICHMOND, Texas – Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls blamed a lack of security along the southern border of the United States for a rash of burglaries in the county, which he said were committed by people who were illegally in the country.
Nehls lauded Thursday President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on border security and immigration after announcing the arrests of 17 people in connection with a rash of burglaries in Fort Bend County and the west side of Houston.
Fort Bend County deputies said the investigation began in 2016 after they received 120 reports of break-ins at homes, where expensive jewelry and purses were being stolen. The investigation led them to Houston’s west side, where police there also reported an increase in burglaries.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and Houston police launched a joint investigation and identified several suspects and vehicles being used during the crimes, deputies said. Many of the suspects were placed under surveillance.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of 17 people, many of whom were arrested after committing a burglary, deputies said.
The suspects were identified as: Carlos Alberto Riasco Valencia, 35; Layonel Mosquera Mondragon, 31; Harold Jesus Lerma Mosquera, 43; Reynaldo Rivera Centeno, 44; Jeferson Caicedo Perlaza, 36; Jhon Zamora Ibarguen, 26; Victor Sanchez-Murillo, 38; Miguel Gamboa Espinosa, 41; Jorge Johan Perea, Moreno, 27; Marving Paredes-Arrechea, 34; Victor Alfonso Ayovi Cuena, 31; Hector Sinisterra, 34; Anderson Rosera Gamboa, 38; Mario Hurtado Galindo, 28; Andres Fong Luna, 38; Luis Hernando Mosquera Torres, 36; and Jhon Alvarado Riascos Valencia, 28.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said the group is believed to be connected to at least 49 burglaries in Fort Bend County. He said they are also believed to be connected to cases in Brazoria and Harris counties.
Nehls said all of the people arrested are Colombian nationals who were illegally in the United States. He said at least three of them had previously been deported.
“Obviously, our southern border is not secure, because they keep coming back,” Nehls said. “It’s our federal government’s responsibility to secure our border. It’s not the federal government’s inability to secure our borders, it’s their unwillingness to secure our borders. Quite honestly, I think it’s shameful that they aren’t doing everything they possibly can to protect the American people.”
Nehls said four of those arrested were being held in the Fort Bend County Jail on holds from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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