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Convicted Smuggler Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison
LAREDO, Texas – A 46-year-old Dallas resident, Jose Luis Ramos Jr., has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to transport 126 undocumented aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Ramos pleaded guilty to the charge on March 15. Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Ramos to serve an 80-month sentence, to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
The court heard additional information, including Ramos’ prior involvement with the smuggling organization, the dangerous and reckless nature of the transportation, and the number of aliens he attempted to transport. Judge Marmolejo noted his extensive criminal history and that he was not a minor participant in the conspiracy.
On January 6, Ramos drove a tractor-trailer from Laredo and stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint when a service K-9 alerted to the vehicle. Ramos ignored instruction and exited the inspection area, but authorities soon caught and escorted him back to the checkpoint.
A physical inspection revealed a total of 126 individuals inside the trailer, including one unaccompanied minor, from various countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador. Ramos admitted he was hired to drive the tractor trailer from Laredo to San Antonio. During the inspection of the trailer, authorities discovered that the aliens were kept in the sealed trailer with the temperature of 50.7 degrees.
Ramos has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yoona Lim is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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