{"id":2689633,"date":"2026-10-22T11:52:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/human-smugglers-including-1-who-tried-to-dissolve-a-body-in-acid-convicted-in-texas\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T11:52:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T15:52:59","slug":"human-smugglers-including-1-who-tried-to-dissolve-a-body-in-acid-convicted-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/human-smugglers-including-1-who-tried-to-dissolve-a-body-in-acid-convicted-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Smugglers, Including 1 Who Tried to Dissolve a Body in Acid, Convicted in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhuman-smugglers-including-1-who-tried-to-dissolve-a-body-in-acid-convicted-in-texas%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2689633&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Three leaders of a brutal, multimillion-dollar human smuggling operation that left at least one man dead have been convicted on a slew of charges, federal prosecutors announced this week.<\/p>\n<p>In a Wednesday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-wdtx\/pr\/homeland-security-task-force-prosecution-results-multiple-convictions-alien-smugglers\">news release<\/a>, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Texas said a jury found the men guilty of running a ring that carried illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States.<\/p>\n<p>In the course of operations, one man was shot to death, and a member of the ring tried to get rid of the evidence by disposing of the body.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">ICYMI: They ran a multimillion-dollar human smuggling operation\u2014even from prison\u2014and its enforcer tried to dissolve a murder victim\u2019s body in acid before burning it inside a vehicle, according to @TheJusticeDept. Now, a federal jury in Del Rio has convicted three men in the case: Israel Ramirez-Perez, Ricardo Rojas Vazquez and David Christopher Ewell. All three were found guilty of conspiring to transport illegal immigrants resulting in death, transporting illegal immigrants resulting in death and conspiring to transport illegal immigrants while placing lives in jeopardy. Ramirez-Perez and Rojas Vazquez were also convicted of transporting illegal immigrants while placing lives in jeopardy. The DoJ says Rojas Vazquez ran the organization\u2019s operations in Mexico and ordered the murder of Edgar Ponce Campos. Ramirez-Perez\u2014the organization\u2019s enforcer\u2014shot Ponce several times, then tried to dispose of his body in acid. When that didn\u2019t work, Ramirez-Perez put the body in a vehicle, poured gasoline on it and set it on fire. Trial evidence showed he filmed the burning vehicle, shot at it and sent the video to co-conspirator Alejandro Santoyo-Guzman. Meanwhile, Ewell and other defendants continued helping run the organization from an Oklahoma prison. Ewell worked with his significant other, Marcelina Truxillo-Logan, communicating with Jessica Castillo-Guzman, who handled the money. Prosecutors say the smuggling organization made more than $5 million over the course of the conspiracy. The convictions are part of a Homeland Security Task Force prosecution in the Western District of Texas.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AliBradleyTV\/status\/2112973321541488702?\">October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The convicted men were identified as Israel Ramirez-Perez, Ricardo Rojas Vazquez, and David Christopher Ewell.<\/p>\n<p>The ring brought in more than $5 million, according to the release, with the money managed by a co-defendant, identified as Jessica Castillo-Guzman. The release did not include details about legal action against Castillo-Guzman.<\/p>\n<p>Several of the defendants, including Ewell, ran the ring while imprisoned by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, according to the release.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez-Perez was the ring\u2019s \u201cenforcer,\u201d the release stated.<\/p>\n<p>On the orders of Rojas Vazquez, Ramirez-Perez shot a man to death \u2014 then went even further.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvidence presented at trial revealed that Rojas Vazquez ordered the murder of Edgar Ponce Campos. Ramirez-Perez shot Ponce several times,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter the fatal shooting, Ramirez-Perez attempted to dispose of Ponce\u2019s body by dipping it in acid. When that proved unsuccessful, Ramirez-Perez placed the body in a vehicle, poured gasoline on it, and set it on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The release did not state the victim\u2019s relationship to the ring.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons said the case illustrated the ugly realities of illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs I\u2019ve said many times, Alien Smuggling Organizations care nothing about the lives, hopes and dreams of those they smuggle,\u201d Simmons said in the release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey only care about their money. Even once aliens arrive in the U.S., alien smuggling organizations will often extort and terrorize the aliens and their families until additional fees are paid,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Cracking down on illegal immigration has been a signature issue for President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>After Trump\u2019s first term ended in January 2021, the Biden administration opened the floodgates at the southern border, allowing millions of illegal aliens to stream into the country without inspection.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, high-profile crimes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/democrats-show-shocking-callousness-laken-riley-jocelyn-nungarays-mothers-new-low\/\">committed by illegal aliens<\/a> returned the issue to the forefront of election politics.<\/p>\n<p>Since Trump\u2019s return to office, illegal immigration has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/us-sees-negative-net-migration-first-time-nearly-100-years-amid-trumps-border-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slowed to a fraction<\/a> of what it was during President Joe Biden\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n<p>In the news release, Simmons emphasized how alien smuggling rings present dangers far from the brutality of the border.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese organizations also use the safety of homes in U.S. neighborhoods to hide those they smuggle and facilitate their illegal, extortionist schemes, endangering Americans who live close by,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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In a Wednesday news release, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Texas said a jury found the men guilty of running a ring<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2689634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-22T103545.823.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2689633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-22T103545.823.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2689633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2689634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2689633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2689633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2689633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}