Jeanfromfillmore
02-14-2010, 05:34 PM
Three accused in smuggling of illegal immigrants
By WIRE SERVICES
Story Published: Feb 12, 2010 at 7:05 PM PST
Story Updated: Feb 12, 2010 at 7:34 PM PST
Three men allegedly involved in a human smuggling ring that brought illegal aliens from Central and South America across the border and kept them at a "drop house'' in Lynwood were indicted Friday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.
The undocumented immigrants were held until relatives could pay smuggling fees running as high as $13,000, prosecutors said.
The six-count indictment returned Friday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles charges Gustavo Sanchez-Lopez, 30; Diego Martinez-Gonzalez, 28; and Francisco Moreno-Lopez, 55, all of whom are believed to be from Guatemala, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
The men were arrested Jan. 28, when authorities served a search warrant at the drop house in Lynwood. Investigators found 37 illegal aliens inside the house, prosecutors said.
According to the indictment, the defendants were guards at the house, where the illegal immigrants were threatened with death if their smuggling fees were not quickly paid.
The indictment charges all three with one count of conspiracy to harbor and conceal illegal aliens, and five counts of harboring and concealing aliens for financial gain.
Each man faces a statutory maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison if convicted of all charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/local/84280267.html
By WIRE SERVICES
Story Published: Feb 12, 2010 at 7:05 PM PST
Story Updated: Feb 12, 2010 at 7:34 PM PST
Three men allegedly involved in a human smuggling ring that brought illegal aliens from Central and South America across the border and kept them at a "drop house'' in Lynwood were indicted Friday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles.
The undocumented immigrants were held until relatives could pay smuggling fees running as high as $13,000, prosecutors said.
The six-count indictment returned Friday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles charges Gustavo Sanchez-Lopez, 30; Diego Martinez-Gonzalez, 28; and Francisco Moreno-Lopez, 55, all of whom are believed to be from Guatemala, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
The men were arrested Jan. 28, when authorities served a search warrant at the drop house in Lynwood. Investigators found 37 illegal aliens inside the house, prosecutors said.
According to the indictment, the defendants were guards at the house, where the illegal immigrants were threatened with death if their smuggling fees were not quickly paid.
The indictment charges all three with one count of conspiracy to harbor and conceal illegal aliens, and five counts of harboring and concealing aliens for financial gain.
Each man faces a statutory maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison if convicted of all charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/local/84280267.html