McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A man found guilty of human smuggling has been sentenced to almost four years in prison after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through a South Texas border town.

Julian Alberto Soto pleaded guilty and was sentenced on May 20 to human smuggling charges, U.S. Border Patrol said.

The agency says Soto led agents and Texas Department of of Public Safety troopers on a high-speed chase in Roma, Texas.

The pursuit ended when Soto drove his vehicle off an embankment attempting to avoid apprehension. Both Soto and the individuals being smuggled were taken into custody, Border Patrol said.

At the time of the chase, Soto was out on bond for another human smuggling case in Brooks County.

He previously served 57 months of a federal sentence for cocaine possession.

Agency officials say he has been affiliated with several criminal organizations.

“I commend our agents for their exceptional work in bringing this long-term criminal operation to justice,” Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez said. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding criminals accountable and protecting our communities from those who would exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.”

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].