FRESNO, Calif. – Martin Carranza-Sanchez, 45, of Mexico, has confessed to running a heartless scheme preying on desperate immigrants and their families. The so-called “coyote” pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he never intended to actually smuggle anyone into the United States.
Between January 2010 and January 21, 2016, Carranza-Sanchez posed as an undocumented-immigrant smuggler, promising to deliver individuals into the U.S. for a fee. He targeted both those seeking entry and their relatives already residing in the United States, directing them to wire payments to bank accounts throughout the Eastern District of California. The total take? A staggering $95,000, which Carranza-Sanchez is now obligated to repay to his victims.
The scheme wasn’t about border crossings; it was about extortion. Carranza-Sanchez and his accomplices would seize immigrants in Mexico, holding them against their will. They’d then call the U.S.-based relatives, falsely claiming the immigrants were either en route or had already crossed safely, all while demanding immediate payment. Threats of harm to the detained immigrants were common, a cruel tactic to force compliance.
The reality was far more brutal. Carranza-Sanchez never intended to facilitate a successful crossing. Once the money arrived, he’d simply instruct the immigrants to attempt the border crossing themselves – where they were promptly apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. It was a systematic betrayal, a calculated exploitation of hope and desperation.
The investigation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), peeled back the layers of this cynical operation. Assistant United States Attorney Angela L. Scott will be prosecuting the case, seeking justice for those defrauded.
Carranza-Sanchez is scheduled to face U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on February 6, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. He could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. This case serves as a grim reminder of the lengths to which some will go to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking a better life.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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