Mexican Man Sentenced for Human Trafficking

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced that Santos Hernandez-Perez, 36, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for unlawfully transporting undocumented workers within the United States.

Hernandez-Perez was stopped by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department for traffic violations on February 10, 2012, while driving five undocumented workers from Mexico in a vehicle. The men were being transported from Tucson, Arizona, to Barker, New York, and North Carolina. None of the individuals, including Hernandez-Perez, had permission to be in the United States.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Fauzia K. Mattingly, the sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara was above the recommended federal guidelines.

Hernandez-Perez was convicted of unlawfully transporting undocumented workers, a serious crime that affects the lives of many individuals and families within our community.

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that has severe consequences for its victims and our society as a whole. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice and protect the rights of those who are vulnerable.

We commend the efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department for their dedication to combating human trafficking and keeping our communities safe.

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