Andre Albert Coronado-Vigil, a 31-year-old Houston man, pleaded guilty on August 5th and asked the court to decide his sentence. On September 10, 2025, the Defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being caught smuggling people in a vehicle near Pearsall.
The incident happened on April 19, 2024, when Frio County Sheriff's Deputy Torres stopped Coronado-Vigil for speeding—going 81 mph in a 70 mph zone. When the vehicle pulled over, several passengers jumped out and ran into nearby brush. One more person was later found hiding in the back of the SUV. Coronado-Vigil was arrested on the spot.
During sentencing, the court reviewed his criminal history, which included a pending Sexual Assault of a Child charge from Harris County. A report also showed that Coronado-Vigil had made statements minimizing his actions, saying “this is not illegal in Houston, this is just a border scam.”
We’re grateful to the Frio County Sheriff’s Office for their ongoing efforts to stop human smuggling. This crime puts lives at risk—including law enforcement—and we’re committed to holding offenders accountable. Prosecutor Kenny Lam of our Border Prosecution Unit led this case and helped bring the defendant to justice.
