Demetrio Vallejo, Smuggling Undocumented Aliens, Texas 2013

State: Texas
Category: Human Trafficking
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/smuggler-gets-enhanced-sentence-0" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

McALLEN, Texas – Demetrio Vallejo, 41, of Edcouch, has been handed a harsh sentence for his role in a human trafficking operation.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Vallejo pleaded guilty to smuggling undocumented aliens on October 11, 2013. However, the sentence he received was far from a slap on the wrist.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down a 57-month prison sentence to Vallejo, taking into account the fact that he used a dangerous weapon to sexually assault a female undocumented alien. The assault was a particularly heinous act, and the court made sure to send a strong message.

Vallejo’s prison term will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. This means that once he is released from prison, he will be under close supervision by the authorities to ensure that he does not reoffend.

The investigation into Vallejo’s activities began on June 29, 2013, when deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a house in Edcouch. They found Vallejo and a female undocumented alien, and through their investigation, they discovered that Vallejo was using the house as a hub for smuggling and harboring undocumented aliens.

Vallejo was not the only one involved in the operation. His co-defendants, Esther Cano and George Love, both received sentences for their roles in the alien smuggling conspiracy. Cano received a 24-month sentence, while Love received a six-month sentence. Cano’s sentence was enhanced due to her threatening behavior towards two undocumented aliens after being arrested.

The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Kristen Rees prosecuted the case, bringing Vallejo and his co-defendants to justice for their crimes.

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