A man who illegally crossed the Rio Grande into Texas was recently arrested by Border Patrol agents near Roma. The arrested individual was identified as a former Russian mercenary.
The Arrest of Timur Praliev
This Article Includes
According to Valleycentral.com, Praliev crossed the Rio Grande carrying two passports and a combined amount of $4,000 and 60,000 pesos. Amanda McColgan, a courtroom attorney, further revealed that he had concealed a drone inside his backpack during his border crossing.
Praliev confessed to being a member of the state-funded Russian private military group PMC Wagner. Following his arrest, Praliev claimed to be a citizen of Kazakhstan, carrying both Russian and Kazakhstan passports.
According to Valley Central, the U.S. Treasury Department considers PMC Wagner, a military group, as a criminal organization. Additionally, the group has been heavily involved in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Praliev’s motives for crossing the southern border into Texas and carrying a drone remain unknown. However, he was apprehended by border patrol agents and charged with the federal misdemeanor of illegally entering the U.S. Praliev later pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Sentencing of Timur Praliev
The federal prosecutor, McColgan, made a request for Praliev to receive a 15-day sentence. Her decision was based on the dangerous implications posed by the PMC Wagner group.
McColgan expressed the government’s concern for the community’s safety upon the defendant’s release, citing his affiliation with a group involved in political violence.
The presiding judge sentenced Praliev to time served, despite the defense attorney’s argument that the PMC Wagner group is not as aggressive and dangerous as they may seem.
When the judge inquired if Praliev had anything to say, his sole response, requiring a translator, was “Nyet.”