Two members of the Tango Blast gang apprehended by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol’s Laredo Sector, and the Texas Department of Public Safety last fall were sentenced May 15 for transporting illegal immigrants.
Juan Miguel Regalado, 28, and Samuel Grajeda Jr., 21, were convicted and sentenced for conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants, according to a release on the ICE website.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen sentenced Regalado to 66 months. Repeat offender Grajeda violated a prior conviction for transporting illegal immigrants, which netted him a 30-month prison term. Kazen added six months to Grajeda’s term for violating his supervised release. The duo will also be subjected to three years of supervised release once they fulfill their prison sentences.
“These sentences reflect the serious consequences awaiting those who engage in human smuggling and endanger public safety,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Tango Blast gang members put countless lives at risk during these reckless pursuits. Through strong collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations and protecting our communities.”
Tango Blast members sentenced for alien smuggling conspiracy in Texas READ MORE: https://t.co/XKY4uxuHtr pic.twitter.com/yrWhTUhgK8
— MyTexasDaily.com (@mytexasdaily) May 19, 2025
Regaldo was arrested after leading law enforcement in April 2024 on a high-speed chase along the Rio Grande River in which suspected illegal immigrants jettisoned themselves from the green Tahoe driven by Regaldo. The Tahoe reportedly reached a speed of 100 mph before Regaldo drove it into the Rio Grande, exited the vehicle, and swam to safety on Mexican soil.
Regaldo and Grajeda were captured last November as they attempted to smuggle four illegal immigrants in two separate vehicles. The apprehension was not without incident, as another high-speed chase ensued with Grajeda crashing his vehicle into another car before apprehension by law enforcement.
ARREST UPDATE: @TxDPS Texas Rangers arrested Juan Miguel Regalado, 27, a Tango Blast gang member, for human smuggling & evading arrest.
On 4/20/24, Regalado was involved in a human smuggling attempt where he evaded DPS Troopers by driving his vehicle into the Rio Grande &… https://t.co/EcaPX308Nr pic.twitter.com/oJ2AQnwLKS
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) June 5, 2024
According to ICE: “Grajeda and Regalado remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined at in the near future.
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.”
