BUFFALO, N.Y. – In a stunning blow against human trafficking, Augusto Mateo Francisco, 34, of Dunkirk, NY, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for labor trafficking and kidnapping. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., also mandates lifetime supervised release and restitution.
Francisco, a native of Guatemala and a Legal Permanent Resident, stood convicted on two counts of forced labor and one count of transporting a minor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose and Trial Attorney Meghan Tokash from the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit handled the case.
Francisco is accused of facilitating the illegal entry of Guatemalan migrants into the United States, transporting them to the Dunkirk area, and exploiting them for labor on local farms. He charged them for housing, transportation, and other expenses, while retaining a portion of their wages. Threats of harm to their families or deportation were used to maintain control over his victims.
But the horror did not end there. Francisco also engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old Guatemalan minor who had traveled to the U.S. with her mother. He repeatedly raped the girl, threatened her family in Guatemala, and kidnapped her, holding her for nearly two weeks before police intervention.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo commented on the case, stating, ‘This defendant’s conduct…underscores the evils that can be associated with illegal trafficking.’ Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan of HSI echoed this sentiment, highlighting Francisco’s use of his victims’ immigration status as a weapon and emphasizing the severity of his crimes.
The sentencing follows extensive investigations by Homeland Security under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegen and the Chautauqua County Sherriff’s Office, directed by Sheriff James Quattrone. Francisco will now face the full weight of the law for his heinous actions.
Related Federal Cases
- Off-Duty MTA Officer Walks Free in Jose Francisco Escobar Vasquez Death · New York
- Sununu Declares War on Trump’s GOP Grip · New Hampshire
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- “K Money” Crumbles: Wall St. Pretender Admits $2M Scam · New York
- PPE Lie: Edison Execs Plead Guilty to $10M Scam · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News