South-of-border crooks plague HLakes

MARBLE FALLS — A struggling economy, border cartels and a highway through the Highland Lakes used for smuggling help fuel a steady flow of criminal activity by people entering the country illegally, according to law enforcement.

Still, in spite of headline-grabbing cases, illegal detainees only make up 3 percent of the Burnet County Jail population.

In fact, the majority of cases connected to illegal aliens are considered non- or minimally violent in nature and typically involve driving while intoxicated, illegal drugs, unpaid citations and domestic assault.

But as border violence linked to drug gangs continues to grow, there is a chance it eventually could reach the Highland Lakes, especially since U.S. 281 is major north-south conduit for cargo and contraband, lawmen said.

“The way it’s going with Mexico and cartels, we’re going to be seeing it eventually,” said District Attorney Sam Oatman, whose office handles cases in Blanco, Burnet, Llano and San Saba counties. “We’re looking at a possibility. We need to be prepared for it.”

Veteran investigators echoed the sentiment.

“Not a month goes by when we’re not running people back to INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) who come from south of the border,” said Blanco County sheriff’s Investigator Bob Shelton, who has seen his share of such cases.