A 38-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for his involvement in a human smuggling operation that occurred earlier this year in Brownsville, Texas.
Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, a resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty on May 8 to charges of transporting and bringing an alien into the United States, as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera handed down the sentence, which was enhanced due to Ramirez-Carranza’s role in organizing the smuggling event, brandishing a firearm, and creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Ramirez-Carranza, who has a history of felony convictions, including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and illegal reentry after deportation, is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
The investigation, led by Customs and Border Protection with the assistance of the FBI and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that Ramirez-Carranza had conspired with 40-year-old Mexican citizen Issac Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle aliens across the Rio Grande River.
Azuara-Vasquez, who was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison, also pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza and could face removal proceedings.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating the smuggling of people, drugs, and weapons across the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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