ALIEN SMUGGLING RING BUSTED IN VERMONT
Two Canadians, Junior Alcantara-Ramirez and Ginna Reyes-Santos, appeared in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, on August 12, 2023, following their arrest on a charge of alien smuggling.
According to the criminal complaint, Border Patrol agents encountered the defendants near Highgate, Vermont, at around 3 a.m. on August 12. The defendants were in a car parked by the side of the road with its lights off. Inside the back seat, agents identified two Indian nationals who had no permission to be in the United States.
Records checks revealed that the car the defendants were driving had entered the United States from Canada lawfully about an hour earlier. Alcantara-Ramirez and Reyes-Santos were the only occupants of the car at the time of entry.
During a subsequent interview with Border Patrol agents, one of the aliens admitted that an unidentified Canadian female had driven the two aliens from Montreal to the border area, let them out, and directed them to walk across the border into Vermont. The aliens were given directions to rendezvous with another driver on the U.S. side of the border, who would transport them to New York City in exchange for a total of $4000.
The smuggled aliens are currently in custody and are being held as material witnesses.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
Alcantara-Ramirez and Reyes-Santos face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
Alcantara-Ramirez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Liz Quinn, while Reyes-Santos is represented by Katina Francis Ready. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
MANDATORY FACTS
Defendant/Respondent: Junior Alcantara-Ramirez and Ginna Reyes-Santos
Criminal Charge: Alien Smuggling
City and State: Burlington, Vermont
Exact Date: August 12, 2023
Sentence or Outcome: Detained pending further proceedings
Dollar Amounts: $4000
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- 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