McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A model who appeared in Vogue Mexico was sentenced to a year in prison Friday for participating in a conspiracy to steal rental cars.
Raul Zamora — who modeled for Burberry, Louis Vuitton and other brands — rented cars under fake names. Other people transported the cars from Chicago to McAllen.
“First of all, I would like to begin by asking the United States government to forgive me,” Zamora said Friday morning, when he appeared before a federal judge for sentencing.
Raul Coria Zamora is from Colima, Mexico, according to biographical information published by In The Park Management, a modeling agency in Mexico City.
In 2019, when he was 18 years old, Zamora made his international debut at London Fashion Week.
“Outside of modeling, Raul channels his vibrant energy into sports,” according to the biographical information, which Zamora’s lawyer filed with the court. “He enjoys running, dancing, and playing basketball.”
Zamora is no longer affiliated with In the Park Management.
“Just to clarify, we no longer have any professional relationship with Raul,” a representative of the agency said in an email. “His contract with our agency ended, and we do not hold any rights over his images anymore.”
Vogue Mexico featured Zamora in October 2019. In the magazine, he posed shirtless wearing a large silver bracelet and black pants.
Zamora received an O-1 visa, which is reserved for people with “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, business, education, or athletics, or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture industry,” according to information published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The case against Zamora is part of a federal investigation focused on stolen rental cars.
As part of the scheme, people rent cars under fake names — frequently at large airports — and head for the border. Once they cross the Rio Grande, it’s nearly impossible to recover the cars.
Zamora traveled to Chicago, where he rented a 2025 GMC Yukon and a 2025 Jeep Wrangler on July 7 and July 8.
Hertz recovered the Jeep Wrangler on July 9, when it stopped in McAllen, but the GMC Yukon slipped across the border.
“The company that owned the GMC informed law enforcement that the last known GPS location data for the GMC showed it to be in Tamaulipas, Mexico,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
Zamora, meanwhile, took a flight from Houston to Monterrey, Mexico, on July 11.
Customs and Border Protection detained Zamora on Aug. 27, when he attempted to cross the Hidalgo bridge.
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, questioned Zamora about the rental cars.
Zamora “admitted that the intention was to bring the GMC and JEEP to McAllen, Texas,” according to the criminal complaint, “then export the GMC and JEEP to Mexico on behalf of other co-conspirators.”
The U.S. government canceled his visa, but another person who participated in the conspiracy pushed Zamora to rent more cars.
Zamora “claimed he felt he had no other choice,” according to the criminal complaint.
A federal grand jury charged Zamora with conspiracy to defraud the United States. He pleaded guilty.
“I know I have made a grave mistake,” Zamora said Friday.
Zamora read from a prepared statement written in Spanish. When he finished, a court translator read the statement again in English.
Guidelines published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission suggested 12 to 18 months in prison.
“I’m sorry you got involved,” said Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane, adding that Zamora apparently was tempted by easy money.
Crane sentenced Zamora to 12 months and 1 day in prison.