Paul Garza, Human Smuggling, Mississippi 2019

Gulfport, Miss. - In a disturbing display of human exploitation, Paul Garza, a 50-year-old Houston resident, has pleaded guilty to human smuggling in Mississippi. According to court documents, Garza was caught transporting nine individuals, including two unaccompanied juveniles, across state lines without proper documentation.

The incident occurred on March 22, 2019, when a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge SUV with Texas license plates around the 40-mile marker on Interstate 10 eastbound. The agent noticed multiple indicators that smuggling was taking place and discovered that none of the passengers had proper documents.

Investigation revealed that Garza was the primary driver, but had been temporarily replaced due to his sleepiness and weaving on the road. Furthermore, the vehicle was equipped with seven seatbelts, but had nine occupants, depriving two of them from wearing seatbelts.

Two of the illegal alien passengers were determined to be unaccompanied juveniles. Additionally, Catarina Ixquiactap Morales, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was determined to have unlawfully returned after removal from the United States, and is being separately prosecuted for that felony offense.

Garza is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sul Ozerden on August 1, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a potential maximum 5 years imprisonment, as well as 3 years supervised release, a maximum $250,000 fine, and special assessments that could total $5,100.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and by Homeland Security Investigations, highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating human smuggling.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris. Garza's guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of human smuggling and the severe consequences that come with it.

Garza is a U.S. citizen living in the Houston, Texas, area. The case highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation in preventing human smuggling and protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/human-smuggler-pleads-guilty-transporting-illegal-aliens