Customs and Border Protection agents from the Field Operations Office seized just over $19 million in methamphetamine.

Vincent Andrew Gutiérrez, 32, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for downloading child pornography via BitTorrent, and ordered to pay 3,000 dólares in restitution and five years of supervised release. Judge Randy Crane convicted him after 412 images and four videos were found, warning the Rio Grande Valley community about the use of file‑sharing networks.

Martín Hernández Alvarado, 61, was sentenced to 40 years for sexual offenses against minors. Learn the details of the case and the investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized cocaine valued at about $634,000 during a non‑intrusive inspection of a tractor‑trailer from Reynosa at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility on August 7. Physical inspection uncovered 18 packages weighing a total of 47.48 lb (21.54 kg) hidden in the vehicle, which was also impounded, and a Homeland Security Investigation team launched a criminal probe.

Firefighters from Pharr, McAllen and Mission fought a large fire in a warehouse at block 1100 of Albrad Avenue in Pharr, starting at 8 p.m. on the indicated day. Two butane gas tanks exploded and, as a safety measure, a perimeter was established and vehicles and belongings were moved; a firefighter was taken to the hospital for dehydration.