Webb County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Mesquite man after a traffic stop on Interstate 35 led to the discovery of three passengers who U.S. Border Patrol determined were in the United States unlawfully, along with a loaded firearm.
Deputies stopped a 2024 Hyundai Elantra at about 1:40 p.m. Saturday near the 31-mile marker on IH-35 in Webb County, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The driver was identified as Alford Cornelius Hughes Jr., 21, of Mesquite.
During the investigation, Hughes gave inconsistent statements about the three passengers before later acknowledging that he was transporting them to San Antonio, officials said. Deputies requested assistance from U.S. Border Patrol, which determined the passengers’ immigration status.
A search of the vehicle found a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s seat. Border Patrol agents took custody of the three passengers, while deputies recovered the weapon.
Hughes was arrested and charged with three counts of smuggling of persons, a third-degree felony, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor. The charges are allegations, and Hughes is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Webb County Sheriff Martín Cuéllar credited cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
“I am proud of the outstanding work our deputies continue to do each day. I have always believed that teamwork—both within our agency and with our law enforcement partners—is the key to keeping our community safe. This case is another example of what can be accomplished when we work together.”