Two Mexican men have been handed 5-year prison sentences for their roles in a deadly human smuggling operation in south Texas.
Fabian Hernandez, 29, and Emmanuel Ferral-Tonche, 20, both from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens which resulted in multiple deaths.
On June 9, 2021, Hernandez and Ferral-Tonche marched a group of approximately two dozen individuals through the hot south Texas brush. Some were unable to keep going and tragically succumbed to dehydration and hyperthermia.
Authorities responded to multiple 911 emergency calls from the Hachar Ranch property in Webb County and discovered 24 individuals who had become lost. Law enforcement identified Hernandez and Ferral-Tonche as the smugglers and found the remains of three deceased people.
The court heard evidence that neither man attempted to help look for or offer water to the aliens they smuggled, despite the extreme heat.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for both men, who are expected to face removal proceedings following their sentences.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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