Former Eagle Pass police detective Hazel Diaz was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison for allowing a human smuggling operation to run “stash houses” out of her rental properties in the border community.
The Texas Tribune reported that Diaz earned nearly $40,000 from the operation between September 2020 and August 2021. The Tribune’s James Barragán says Diaz’ role in the operation, and her conviction, were a shock to the community.
“You can imagine [this] is a huge betrayal of trust to the public, because she was supposed to be a law enforcement officer who was entrusted with public safety,” Barragán said.
In addition to the prison sentence, Diaz must forfeit the properties she owned, and pay at $10,000 fine.
Hear more stories from the week in Texas politics in the audio player above.
