Ex-Houston officer, wife guilty in human smuggling case

Former Houston police officer Juan Carrillo and his wife, Rosa Carrillo, were arrested Nov. 8, 2015, in south Texas on charges of transporting illegal immigrants. (Houston Police Department) Former Houston police officer Juan Carrillo and his wife, Rosa Carrillo, were arrested Nov. 8, 2015, in south Texas on charges of transporting illegal immigrants. (Houston Police Department) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Ex-Houston officer, wife guilty in human smuggling case 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — A now-fired Houston police officer and his wife have pleaded guilty in a South Texas human smuggling case involving one of her relatives.

Prosecutors say 51-year-old Juan Carrillo and 42-year-old Rosa Lidia Carrillo pleaded guilty Thursday in Del Rio to transporting undocumented immigrants.

The husband and wife from Cypress remain free on bond pending sentencing. Both could get five-year prison terms.

Houston police fired Juan Carrillo following the couple's arrest last November near Big Wells. Officers say two people in the vehicle with the Carrillos were in the U.S. illegally.

Court documents show Rosa Carrillo wired $1,500 to an unknown individual to get a relative smuggled into the U.S. The Carrillos traveled to Eagle Pass to pick up the family member and a companion and drive them to Houston.