Smuggler Gets 80 Months in Death of Woman in Ship Channel

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A desperate gamble for a new life ended in tragedy, and now, justice is being served. Galdino Jose Ruiz-Hernandez, a 38-year-old undocumented alien from Oaxaca, Mexico, was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for human smuggling, stemming from a botched crossing of the Brownsville ship channel that resulted in a woman’s death. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle, who presided over the two-day trial that convicted Ruiz-Hernandez on January 11, 2017.

The grim details emerged during the trial: On April 24, 2015, Ruiz-Hernandez reported finding a body floating in the ship channel. What he conveniently left out was his direct involvement. Investigators quickly determined Ruiz-Hernandez had been guiding the female illegal alien across the water at midnight when they were struck by a Coast Guard boat. The autopsy revealed the woman died from injuries caused by the boat’s propeller. Ruiz-Hernandez was initially arrested for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a prior deportation, but the smuggling charge soon followed.

Evidence painted a picture of a callous operation. Ruiz-Hernandez wasn’t acting alone. He was working on behalf of Gabriel Sanchez-Aburto, 46, who paid him to travel to Mexico and retrieve the victim. The pair illegally entered the U.S., walked to the ship channel, and attempted the treacherous water crossing under the cover of darkness. Even more damning, prosecutors presented evidence that Ruiz-Hernandez tried to coerce another individual into providing false testimony, claiming the Coast Guard boat intentionally struck the woman.

The investigation, spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), didn’t stop with Ruiz-Hernandez. On October 27, 2015, agents arrested Sanchez-Aburto, who was actively involved in smuggling other aliens. The raid uncovered seven additional undocumented aliens and led to the arrest of three brothers – Lazaro Comunidad-Hernandez, 48, Pablo Comunidad-Hernandez, 25, and Luciano Comunidad-Hernandez, 39, all from Puebla, Mexico – who were also participating in the smuggling scheme. The brothers received sentences ranging from 10 to 15 months last year and also face deportation.

Sanchez-Aburto, facing his own reckoning, pleaded guilty to alien smuggling charges and was sentenced today to a total of 87 months imprisonment. Judge Tagle also ordered him to pay $6,000 in restitution to cover expenses related to the victim’s death. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those attempting to enter the U.S. illegally and the criminal networks that exploit their desperation.

Both Ruiz-Hernandez and Sanchez-Aburto will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Following their release, both men are expected to face deportation proceedings, adding another layer of consequence to their crimes. This isn’t just about breaking immigration laws; it’s about a life lost, and a family forever grieving a reckless and deadly venture.

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