Man faces charges for evading checkpoint and smuggling undocumented migrants

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - The U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Border Patrol has charged an undocumented migrant for speeding from a checkpoint to evade capture while transporting undocumented migrants.

In the morning of March 2th, Roberto Rodrigo Velazquez-Lopez allegedly drove a sedan with Texas license plates through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on I-25 in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, according to court records.

Velazquez-Lopez ignored agents' commands to stop, and continued northbound at high speed, reportedly reaching speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour before yielding near mile marker 40, the court records show.

Velazquez-Lopez admitted to being 'illegally present in the United States and to having two individuals concealed in the trunk of the vehicle'. A total of four undocumented migrants were found after agents searched the vehicle.

The court records say Velazquez-Lopez stated he was instructed to transport them from El Paso, Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico in order to pay off a debt. He also statement previously smuggling other undocumented individuals on four occasions.