DEL RIO, Texas — A former police detective for the Eagle Pass Police Department was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in a conspiracy to harbor undocumented noncitizens for a human smuggling organization. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.
Hazel Eileen Diaz, 54, was sentenced Oct. 23 by a federal judge to 120 months in federal prison for harboring noncitizens inside a stash house.
“This defendant swore to protect and serve her community, but instead she abused her position of public trust by harboring noncitizens inside her rental homes,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “The sentencing of this former police officer should serve as a stark reminder that no one is above the law. HSI will continue to bring smugglers to justice especially those misusing a badge.”
According to court documents, Diaz rented out multiple properties she owned in Eagle Pass to assist in harboring undocumented noncitizens between September 2020 and August 2021. Diaz often traveled to the properties where the migrants were being held to collect rent payments. The investigation later revealed that nearly 200 migrants were smuggled by the human smuggling organization Diaz worked for. She had received approximately $36,916 in cash and money service business transfers, much of which were proceeds from human smuggling. At the time of her arrest, she was in possession of $23,522 in cash from the smuggling operation.
Diaz’s co-defendant, Tomas Alejandro Mendez, pleaded guilty July 11, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to harbor noncitizens. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 13, 2025. Another co-defendant, Paola Nikole Cazares, was sentenced Oct. 11, 2023, to 63 months in prison for the same offense with credit for time served since Aug. 26, 2021. Mendez and Cazares worked with Diaz to operate her properties as stash houses.
In addition to imprisonment, Diaz will serve three years of supervised release, pay a $10,000 fine and a money judgment of $237,600, and forfeit three properties, a truck and $23,522.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Holly Pavlinski prosecuted the case.
HSI San Antonio continues to address the serious public safety threat posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of the people they exploit. To report suspicious smuggling activity, call 866-348-2423.