Texas law enforcement has apprehended a convicted murderer and known gang member who illegally reentered the United States after deportation, officials said Friday.
Gregorio Denova-Cantu, 51, was taken into custody during a morning traffic stop in Laredo, just two years after being deported following an 18-year prison sentence for murder. The Mexican national is also a confirmed ranking member of the Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos gang, according to authorities.
The arrest came when DPS Criminal Investigations Division Special Agents and Troopers pulled over a black Chevrolet Malibu just after 9:00 a.m. on September 25, 2025, at the intersection of San Luis and Monterrey Street in Laredo, a Texas Department of Public Safety statement confirmed.
What makes this case particularly concerning? Denova-Cantu’s criminal history stretches back decades. He was originally arrested and convicted in 2004 on charges of murder and engaging in organized criminal activity. After serving his sentence at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison in Huntsville, he was removed from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2023.
Gang Ties and Border Security
Authorities identified Denova-Cantu as an “aggravated deported felon” who had managed to reenter the country despite his previous deportation. His membership in the Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos — a prison gang with extensive networks throughout Texas — adds another layer of complexity to the case.
Following his capture in Laredo, DPS turned Denova-Cantu over to ICE and Enforcement and Removal Operations for further immigration enforcement proceedings, according to the officials involved in the operation.
This arrest comes amid ongoing debates about border security in Texas, where state and federal authorities continue to grapple with the challenges of preventing previously deported criminals from reentering the country. For residents of border communities like Laredo, cases like Denova-Cantu’s highlight the persistent concerns about cross-border crime.
The DPS has not released details about how long Denova-Cantu had been back in the United States before his capture, or what specifically led investigators to target the vehicle he was traveling in.
