A Corpus Christi man has been charged with transporting illegal aliens after being arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Port Mansfield, Texas, on Oct. 6. Agents arrested 28-year-old Alec Ray Foss after they stopped him in a speedboat-type vessel that was carrying three illegal immigrants, an AR-style rifle, a handgun and four pipe bombs.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Border Patrol agents responded to a dock in Port Mansfield after receiving a tip from the Port Mansfield Police Department that three people had exited a nearby vehicle and boarded a speedboat-style vessel. Authorities saw the vessel leaving the dock and heading north along the Intracoastal Waterway.
A law enforcement aircraft observed the vessel 20 miles south of Corpus Christi, according to court documents. Through an ongoing investigation, Border Patrol agents identified the vessel as one previously operated by Foss. Within hours of receiving the first information about the alleged smuggling incident, agents located the suspicious vessel at Bluff Marina.
Border Patrol agents approached Foss as he tried to load the boat onto a trailer and leave the dock. As agents approached, Foss unlocked the vehicle from its trailer, boarded the vessel and attempted to start the engine, according to the criminal complaint. Agents intervened and ordered Foss not to start the boat and disembark. Foos complied and was taken into custody.
After being informed of his rights and agreeing to answer questions, Foss told agents there were three people on the boat. During the search, agents located three male subjects, who were later found to be illegally in the United States, hiding in cabin areas and under-seat compartments. Border Patrol agents also found a handgun, an AR-style rifle with drum magazines, and four suspected pipe bombs in a bag.
According to court documents, Foss told authorities he expected to receive $3,000 in cash for each illegal alien he transported to Houston, Texas. The three passengers found on the Foss ship were identified as two Ecuadorian citizens and a Guatemalan national illegally in the United States.
Foos was no stranger to transporting illegal aliens, according to a detention memorandum filed with the court. In 2023, authorities said Foss was arrested by Zapata County Sheriff’s Department deputies after being encountered at a South Texas stop. At the time, there were three illegal immigrants in the vehicle driven by Foss, who were hiding behind the seats and in the rear trunk area of the vehicle. Charges in the case were eventually dropped, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In addition to the criminal case against Voss for transporting illegal aliens, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the pipe bombs on the ship.
As part of the investigation, ATF executed a search warrant at Foss’ residence on October 8. During the search, five guns, 3,500 rounds of ammunition and various materials used to make pipe bombs were discovered and confiscated.
If convicted of illegal transportation of aliens endangering life, Foss faces up to 20 years in prison.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Chief of Enforcement Operations, directing operations at nine Border Patrol stations in the Del Rio, Texas, area. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with the Breitbart News Foundation. He co-founded the Breitbart Journalism Foundation’s Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Breitbart News senior management. You can follow him twitter etc. Facebook. You can contact him through the following methods Iortiz@breitbart.com.