DALLAS — Authorities say five people have been charged in a "smuggling scheme'' following the fatal crash of an SUV that was fleeing Border Patrol agents and sheriff's deputies in South Texas.

Federal prosecutors announced the charges Tuesday in connection to the Sunday crash that killed at least five people.

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The five, including 20-year-old Jorge Luis Monsivais Jr., of Eagle Pass, faces charges of transporting illegal aliens and conspiracy to transport as well as harboring illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and death. Upon conviction, the offense is punishable by life imprisonment or death, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release, the Department of Justice said Tuesday. 

On June 17, U.S. Border Patrol agents initiated immigration inspections on three vehicles — a 2013 Tahoe, a 2007 Suburban, and a 2008 Tahoe — traveling in a convoy on FM 2644 between El Indio and Carrizo Springs.

According to the criminal complaint, the 2013 Tahoe yielded while the other two led Border Patrol agents and Dimmit County Sheriff’s deputies on high speed chases. While traveling east bound on Highway 85,

Monsivais, the driver of the 2007 Suburban, crashed as he entered the town of Big Wells. According to the complaint, Monsivais was traveling with 13 suspected illegal aliens — including one juvenile — at the time of the crash. Four of them died at the scene. Nine were transported to a hospital for medical care. One died on the way to the hospital. One was released to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol after receiving medical attention. Seven remain hospitalized, including the juvenile.

The criminal complaint alleges that the driver of the 2008 Tahoe evaded law enforcement before purposefully coming to a stop. Several people absconded from the vehicle. U.S. Border Patrol agents detained the driver, a 17-year-old juvenile, and captured 10 suspected undocumented immigrants in the area.

In addition to Monsivais, the criminal complaint charges the driver of the 2013 Tahoe, 55-year-old Mexican citizen Marcial Gomez Santana; and occupants, 45-year-old Mexican citizen Mariela Reyna; Marcial’s son, 21- year-old Rudy Gomez of Hockley, TX; and, Marcial’s daughter, 19-year-old Johana Gomez of Houston, TX, as conspirators in the smuggling venture. All five charged in the federal criminal complaint remain in custody.

Of the 23 illegal aliens involved in this scheme, 21 are Mexican nationals and two are Honduran nationals.

At this time, six of the 23 illegal aliens are being held on federal complaints as material witnesses.