LAREDO (WBAP/KLIF News) – Drama continues to cloud Fort Hood.
Two soldiers stationed there have been charged with smuggling two undocumented Mexican citizens into San Antonio, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
20-year-old Emmanuel Oppongagyare, a Pennsylvania National Guardsman stationed there, and 18-year-old Ralph Saint-Joie, an active duty U.S. Army member, made their initial court appearances Tuesday in Laredo.
According to a criminal complaint, two Mexican nationals were found in a car trunk inspected at the Hebbronville Border Patrol Checkpoint on June 13th.
Opongagyare was the driver and Saint-Joie was in the passenger. Both were in full uniform when the alleged crime occurred.
Prosecutors said the pair were expected to receive an undetermined amount of money to pick up the migrants in McCallen and drive them to San Antonio.
They were allegedly told to wear there uniforms to avoid any suspicion from authorities.
If convicted, Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie face up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The alleged activity is another scar on Fort Hood.
Last year, 14 U.S. Army leaders were fired or suspended due to numerous accounts of sexual harassment, violence, deaths and murders that have occurred at the Central Texas base.
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