Fugitive Arrested In Alleged Texas-Mexico Border Car Price-Fixing Scheme
Rigoberto Brown, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen and nearly four-year fugitive, was arrested near McAllen, Texas in the week of August 10 on allegations of leading a cross-border car price-fixing scheme.[1]
He was indicted in November 2022 on charges of conspiring to fix prices, divide the market and monopolize the transmigrante forwarding business tied to the Los Indios Port of Entry.[1] Brown is expected to be arraigned Friday, August 14, 2026, in federal court in Houston.[1]
Prosecutors say Brown helped Carlos "Cuate" Martinez run a coordinated network of forwarding agencies that fixed fees, centrally pooled revenue and used exclusive Mexican customs-broker relationships.[1] Authorities say the scheme controlled much of the transmigrante traffic of used U.S. cars into Mexico, involving thousands of vehicles and millions of dollars in annual revenue.[1]
Brown had avoided arrest for nearly four years after the 2022 indictment before his capture near McAllen.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Rigoberto Brown, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, was arrested near McAllen, Texas in the week of August 10, 2026 after nearly four years as a fugitive.
- Brown was indicted in November 2022 on charges of conspiring to fix prices, divide the market and monopolize the transmigrante forwarding business tied to the Los Indios Port of Entry.
- He is set to be arraigned Friday, August 14, 2026, in federal court in Houston.
- Prosecutors allege Brown helped Carlos "Cuate" Martinez run a coordinated network of forwarding agencies that fixed fees, centrally pooled revenue and leveraged exclusive Mexican customs‑broker relationships.
- Authorities say the alleged scheme controlled much of the transmigrante traffic of used U.S. cars into Mexico, involving thousands of vehicles and millions of dollars in annual revenue.
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