Fabian Hugo De Mestico, Alien Smuggling, Vermont 2014

California Man Charged with Alien Smuggling

A Californian has been charged with alien smuggling after a brazen attempt to sneak a Polish citizen into the United States was foiled by Border Patrol Agents in Vermont.

Fabian Hugo De Mestico, 47, of California, was arrested on November 20, 2014, and appeared in United States District Court in Burlington on November 21, 2014. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy released De Mestico on conditions pending his next court hearing.

According to court records, Border Patrol Agents noticed footprints on a back road near Canaan, Vermont, which suggested that someone had walked into the United States from Canada without reporting to a port-of-entry. Another agent spotted a car with an out-of-state license plate, registered to a car rental company, pulling out of a gas station in Canaan.

De Mestico, who had flown to Vermont from California on November 19, rented a car and drove to Montreal, where he met the Polish citizen. He then drove him to a point north of the border and let him walk across into the United States. De Mestico picked the alien up near Canaan and planned to drive him to Boston.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge against De Mestico is merely an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

If convicted, De Mestico faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. He is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steve Barth, and the prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

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