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Alien Smugglers Get Lengthy Prison Terms
TUCSON, Ariz. – Two Mexican nationals, Fidel Mancinas-Franco, 51, and Jose Villela-Lopez, 53, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in an alien-smuggling ring that displayed a callous disregard for the lives of those being smuggled.
Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez were each sentenced to 96 to 120 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins. The defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring in, transport, and harbor unauthorized aliens. Their co-defendant, Fernando Diaz-Gonzalez, received a 48-month sentence for his lesser role in the conspiracy.
The defendants were part of a conspiracy to smuggle unauthorized aliens into the United States from Mexico and to transport and harbor those aliens within the United States. Most of the smuggled aliens hailed from Central and South America. The smugglers collected over $110,000 in smuggling fees, which Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez were required to forfeit at sentencing.
The investigation into the alien-smuggling ring was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI) in Douglas, Ariz., U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol (CBP/BP) Tucson Sector, ICE/HSI Attaché Mexico City, ICE/HSI Attaché Hermosillo, and ICE/HSI Attaché Guatemala City.
“The defendants participated in an alien-smuggling ring that displayed callous disregard for the lives of the persons being smuggled,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “Yesterday’s lengthy sentences send a strong and unambiguous message that such conduct will not be tolerated and will be punished severely.”
Matthew C. Allen, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix, stated, “Yesterday’s sentencing is a result of the successful collaboration efforts driven by HSI, Border Patrol and our state, local and foreign partners, that disrupted and dismantled this human smuggling network.”
The prosecution was handled by Sandra M. Hansen and Carmen F. Corbin, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson. The case highlights the risks and dangers of human smuggling, which can result in severe consequences for those involved.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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