U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a woman who was allegedly transporting 44 rifles, one handgun, and one dissembled M249 machine gun, along with ammunition in a trampoline box, at the U.S. Mexico border.
Mayra Alejandra Padron, a U.S. citizen, attempted to cross the border Monday at the Hidalgo port in Texas. Padron was driving a gray Chevrolet Silverado on her way into Mexico with the trampoline box in the bed of the truck. Upon inspecting the vehicle, Border Patrol agents found the weapons. CBP officers called in investigators from Homeland Security, who ultimately filed the complaint against Padron.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents interviewed Padron after she had been detained by CBP, according to court documents. She admitted to agents that someone in the United States hired her to take the box from Houston to Mexico for $200.
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Throughout her interview, Padron changed her story multiple times. At first, she said the box was meant for her brother Reynosa, then she claimed it was actually for Reynosa’s neighbor Sergio. Later, she claimed someone visited her home on behalf of Sergio to load her truck.
Padron admitted Sergio “pushed” her to make the delivery quickly, and she subsequently “felt something was not right.” In the end, Sergio “paid extra” to get Padron to leave sooner with the toys and two trampolines.
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There are pending charges against Padron for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon from December. As a result, Judge Nadia Medrano of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas held Padron without bond.
