Gulfport, Miss. — Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for the illegal transportation of undocumented immigrants across state lines. The conviction stems from a December 2019 traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Jackson County that unraveled a human smuggling operation stretching from the Texas border to the Gulf Coast.
Hernandez-Reyes pleaded guilty on June 4, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Guirola Jr. to the federal felony charge of illegal transportation or moving of an alien. As an undocumented immigrant previously removed from the U.S., his return and criminal activity set the stage for severe penalties. Upon completing his sentence, he will face immediate deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If he illegally reenters the U.S. during his supervised release, he could face an additional prison term, consecutive to any new prosecution — and up to 10 years behind bars due to his felony conviction.
The operation was run with help from Modesto Alvarado, 18, a U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas, who served as co-driver. Alvarado pleaded guilty on June 17, 2020, to misprison of felony — hiding a serious crime — for his role in the smuggling run through Harrison County. He faces up to 3 years in federal prison, 1 year of supervised release, and a potential fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Guirola.
Inside the overcrowded minivan — designed for fewer occupants — authorities found nine people, all without valid identification. The vehicle lacked seat belts for every passenger, a clear violation of safety laws and a hallmark of illicit human transport. The traffic stop was executed by an agent from the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team (SMMET), a joint task force comprising U.S. Border Patrol, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and Gautier Police. After suspicion of smuggling arose, all occupants were taken to the Gautier Police Department for processing.
Three of the passengers — Elias Delgado-Ortiz, 19, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Ernaides Aldana-Hernandez, 42, from El Salvador; and Orbin Noel Gomez-Suarez, 24, of Honduras — each pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry after deportation. Delgado-Ortiz was sentenced on June 2, 2020, to time served — effectively 6 months and 1 day. Aldana-Hernandez and Gomez-Suarez were sentenced the following day to time served — 6 months and 2 days — and all three received 1 year of supervised release.
Each of the three deported passengers now faces immediate re-removal by the Department of Homeland Security. Any attempt to return unlawfully during their supervised release could trigger a new prosecution and up to 10 years in federal prison. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, with support from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its Blue Lightening Operations Center in Gulfport. U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Acting Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill of HSI New Orleans confirmed the outcome, underscoring the federal crackdown on cross-border alien smuggling networks exploiting the Gulf Coast corridor.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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