Gulfport, Mississippi – In a shocking turn of events, Luis Enrique Moran-Vargaz, a 36-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison for his involvement in a human smuggling conspiracy.
According to court records, Moran-Vargaz was driving a Dodge Ram pick-up truck on Interstate-10 in Jackson County, Mississippi, when he was stopped by a City of Gautier Police Officer for speeding in a construction zone. A search of the vehicle revealed that there were seven occupants, including Moran-Vargaz and six unidentified passengers, who were all found to be illegally present in the United States.
Further investigation revealed that one of the passengers, Juan Antonio Martinez-Alonso, a 50-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, had previously been removed from the United States twice in 2016, after a lawful removal order had been issued. Martinez-Alonso had also been convicted of this same offense in 2016 in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Moran-Vargaz was charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States and pleaded guilty on January 23, 2018. He was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. As a result of his felony conviction, Moran-Vargaz will face removal proceedings by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security upon the completion of his prison sentence.
Were he to be removed and unlawfully return to the United States during his period of supervised release, he could face additional penalties. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Gautier Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Moran-Vargaz is expected to begin serving his sentence immediately. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi has announced that it will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals involved in human smuggling and other serious crimes.
Defendant: Luis Enrique Moran-Vargaz
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States
City and State: Gulfport, Mississippi
Exact Date: January 23, 2018
Sentence: 8 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release
Additional Facts: Moran-Vargaz will face removal proceedings by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security upon the completion of his prison sentence.
Category: Human Trafficking, Violent Crime
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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