A Laredo resident has been sentenced to a total of 63 months in prison for his role in an alien smuggling case, federal prosecutors announced this week.
Jorge Castenada, 38, was convicted of alien smuggling and violating the terms of his supervised release after he was stopped by Border Patrol agents in May 2012.
According to court documents, Castenada agreed to transport an undocumented Guatemalan female alien from McAllen to Houston via Laredo for $1,500. However, instead of following through with the transportation, Castenada took the woman to a deserted house where he sexually assaulted her and threatened her to keep quiet.
Castenada, who has a lengthy criminal history, was arrested by Border Patrol agents after they discovered the woman in his vehicle.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed down the sentence of 51 months for the alien smuggling offense and an additional 12 months for violating the terms of his supervised release, to be served consecutively.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonah Lee.
Jorge Castenada’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of human trafficking, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas is committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the victims of this heinous crime.
Related Federal Cases
- Erick Douglas Serrano-Aleman, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2023 · Arizona
- Jose Luis Tobias, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2012 · Texas
- Jose Alberto Izquierdo-Gonzalez, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2013 · Texas
- Marco Antonio Nava Jr., Alien Smuggling, TX, 2023 · Mississippi
- Carlos Santana, Alien Smuggling, New York 2024 · California
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman Trafficking