A 43-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in an alien smuggling incident that led to the kidnapping of multiple illegal aliens.
In a re-arraignment hearing on August 2017, Jesus Osorio admitted that he conspired to harbor and transport undocumented aliens in violation of law.
On July 5, 2016, law enforcement responded to an incident at a residence in Laredo where eight undocumented aliens were kidnapped and held hostage against their will. They had previously made arrangements to be smuggled into the United States.
After their arrival, they stayed at a Laredo residence for two weeks. They were then transported to a second location where Angel Alexis Diaz, 20, Jose Israel Diaz, 43, and Julio Osorio, 40, all of Laredo, held them hostage. The victims reported being beaten, forced to undress and ordered to contact family members to pay a ransom for their release.
Through further investigation, authorities learned that Jesus Osorio was the man who drove the aliens from the stash house to the second residence where they were eventually kidnapped. During the course of the offense, one of the undocumented aliens was seriously injured and required hospitalization.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga accepted the plea. Sentencing has been set for January 2, 2018 before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, Jesus Osorio faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Additionally, Angel Diaz, Jose Diaz, and Julio Osorio were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap illegal aliens and received sentences of 262-360 months in prison.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. dos Santos is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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