Salmen Hernandez-Ayala, Alien Smuggling, Vermont 2018

A Mexican man was sentenced for smuggling three illegal aliens through Vermont, a sign of the ongoing struggle to secure the nation’s borders.

Salmen Hernandez-Ayala, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served in United States District Court in Burlington for transporting three illegal aliens within the United States.

Hernandez-Ayala was arrested on May 17, 2018, after United States Border Patrol agents stopped the taxi he was riding in on U.S. Route 5 in Derby, Vermont. The agents determined that Hernandez-Ayala and the three aliens were illegally present in the United States.

The three aliens, who were charged, convicted, and sentenced, are:

Eliezer Esteban Gamez-Saban, 21, a citizen of Guatemala, was charged with illegal reentry into the United States after having previously been removed from the United States, a felony offense. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to time served.

Jorge Campos-Navarro, 21, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegal entry into the United States, a misdemeanor offense. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy to time served.

Bryan Antonio Cruz-Salvador, 20, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegal entry into the United States, a misdemeanor offense. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy to time served.

The Swanton Sector Border Patrol is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont as well as New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable in helping the U.S. Border Patrol accomplish their border security mission and they welcome community members to help them keep our nation’s borders safe by reporting suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.

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