Laredo, Texas – In a chilling case of human smuggling, 49-year-old Juan Manuel Aguirre has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for his role in transporting over 100 illegal aliens in deplorable conditions.
Aguirre, who pleaded guilty on February 6th, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison. The court took into account Aguirre’s history of previous smuggling activities and the dangerous manner in which he transported the aliens in a locked, dark, and unventilated trailer that required law enforcement to break it open.
“Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will ensure that those who engage in such callous acts face significant consequences.”
The grim discovery was made on December 2, 2024, when authorities observed several individuals being loaded into a white trailer at a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre, the driver, was stopped shortly after departure, leading to the discovery of 101 aliens, including 13 children as young as 13 years old, locked inside the trailer. Many reported breathing difficulties and fear for their lives due to the conditions they were subjected to.
The aliens originated from Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Honduras. Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, Border Patrol, and involved the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is handling the prosecution of this case.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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