3 Fort Hood soldiers indicted in immigrant smuggling conspiracy

A soldier stationed at Fort Hood is in custody for allegedly smuggling transporting illegal aliens across the Texas-Mexico border. If convicted, Army Pvt. Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, could serve up to 10 years in prison. less A soldier stationed at Fort Hood is in custody for allegedly smuggling transporting illegal aliens across the Texas-Mexico border. If convicted, Army Pvt. Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, could serve up to 10 ... more Photo: Courtesy Of Cameron County Jail Photo: Courtesy Of Cameron County Jail Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close 3 Fort Hood soldiers indicted in immigrant smuggling conspiracy 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

Three active duty soldiers stationed at Fort Hood have been indicted in connection with a conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants, according to federal officials.

The soldiers — Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, Brandon Troy Robbins, 20, and Christopher David Wix, 21— each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine if convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens and six counts of transporting aliens, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

All three were arrested Thursday at Fort Hood in Killeen.

Robbins is accused of transporting two undocumented persons on April 13. Wix is charged with transporting two on June 21.

Arnoldo Gracia, a 45-year-old Harlingen man and alleged smuggler, is also named in the indictment and accused of aiding and abetting the three soldiers. Authorities arrested him Wednesday.

Rodriguez was previously arrested on Sept. 11, when Border Patrol agents at the Sarita checkpoint — about an hour southwest of Corpus Christi — reported finding two undocumented immigrants hiding in the back seat of a Chevrolet truck driven by Rodriguez, who was dressed in a military uniform.

The immigrants were concealed under a bed sheet and a military jacket with Rodriguez's name tag, according to a criminal complaint.

One immigrant told police Rodriguez picked them up on the Texas side of the border and transported them further north, the complaint said.

All three Army privates serve in the 1st Cavalry Division's 215th Brigade Support Battalion.

Rodriguez is an ammunition specialist who enlisted in July 2012 and trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, at Fort Sam Houston and at Fort Lee, Virginia, until April 2013, according to service records provided by Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox.

Wix — an automated logistical specialist originally from Opelika, Alabama — enlisted in June 2012 and trained at Fort Lee and Fort Jackson in South Carolina before being stationed at Fort Hood in November 2012.

Robbins, a vehicle transport operator who was living in Harlingen when he enlisted in April 2013, trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri before heading to Fort Hood in September 2013.

The soldiers are set to make an initial court appearance Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey C. Maske in Waco.

Gracia made an appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya in Brownsville. He will remain in custody pending a hearing set for Oct. 14, according to a news release.

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports