News Americas, HOUSTON, TX, Fri. Aug. 1, 2014: Three of the five Mexican men arrested in connection with the March discovery of more than 100 undocumented aliens in an area stash house have been ordered to federal prison.
Jonathan Solorzano-Tavila, 30; Eugenio Sesmas-Borja, 20 and Jose Cesmas-Borja, 26, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal, to respective terms of 60, 54 and 51 months in federal prison for the conspiracy charge.
In addition, each will serve consecutive 60-month sentences for using a firearm resulting in total sentences ranging from 120 to 111 months in federal prison.
The three, who are also undocumented, all face deportation proceedings after they complete their prison sentences.
Two others – Jose Aviles-Villa, 32, and Antonio Barruquet-Hildeberta, 46 – are scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 4.
The five were arrested on March 19th and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence after 115 undocumented migrants were discovered in a stash house on Almeda School Road in Houston.
While in the stash house, the conspirators seized the smuggled migrants’ clothes, shoes, phones and other possessions. The conspirators used guns, paddles, tasers and other equipment to control and prevent the illegal aliens from escaping the stash house. They guarded the migrants with guns displayed in plain view and threatened to kill them by shooting them in the back of the head if they tried to escape.
The convicted smugglers admitted they obtained substantial profits as a result of the conspiracy. They had established networks that brought the aliens into the U.S. illegally across the Southwest border. The undocumented migrants were then held in stash houses while the smugglers arranged payment of remaining smuggling fees from their families.
“These men, who supported alien smuggling and alien harboring, placed their personal profit ahead of public safety and border security,” said Moskowitz. “The resulting prison sentences should remind others involved in this dangerous trade of the severe consequences of their actions.”
