Two Ft. Bliss soldiers plead guilty to human smuggling charges

Two Fort Bliss soldiers are out on bond after pleading guilty to conspiracy-related human smuggling counts.

Prosecutors say Marco Antonio Nava Jr. and Joseph Edmond Cleveland tried to smuggle two immigrants through a border checkpoint near Corpus Christi in June.

Investigators say Nava and Cleveland tried to drive through the Falfurrias checkpoint with two men in the back seat. The two immigrants were believed to be heading to Houston. They were detained when Border Patrol officers discovered they did not have proper identification.

The soldiers were allegedly paid $1,500 to haul the immigrants.

They are currently out on bond awaiting sentencing next year.