ALBANY, NEW YORK – In a stunning verdict, Omar Mera-Marquez, age 46, of Medford, New York, was convicted today following a jury trial of transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement, bringing a measure of justice to the victims of this heinous crime.
The evidence presented in court demonstrated that on October 3, 2023, Mera-Marquez and his accomplice, Jose Calva-Cruz, agreed to drive from Long Island to Fort Covington, New York, near the U.S.-Canadian border, to pick up three men from Mexico who had recently crossed into the United States illegally, in exchange for $1,500.
At 3 a.m. on October 4, 2023, Mera-Marquez and Calva-Cruz arrived at the pickup location, a motel parking lot just a mile from the border. Mera-Marquez, driving a dark SUV with Kansas license plates, stopped in the parking lot just long enough for the three men to run up to the vehicle and jump in. All of this was observed by an agent from U.S. Border Patrol, who was watching the parking lot that evening. Border Patrol agents pulled over the vehicle and everyone was arrested.
Calva-Cruz previously pled guilty for his role in the offense and was subsequently deported. Mera-Marquez, on the other hand, will face the full force of the law, with a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The defendant will be sentenced on September 17, 2024, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, who presided over the trial.
United States Border Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Melissa O. Rothbart are prosecuting the case. The conviction sends a clear message that those who engage in human trafficking will be held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Brooklyn Man Convicted of Smuggling Aliens for Cash · New York
- Jaswinder Singh Arrested for Smuggling Illegal Aliens · Pennsylvania
- Brazilian Citizen Admits Smuggling Undocumented Aliens · Massachusetts
- Rhode Island Men Busted for Alien Smuggling · Rhode Island
- Wichita Attorney Najim Pleads Guilty in $8M Cigarette Smuggling Scheme · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman Trafficking