San Juana Valdez Menchaca, Undocumented Alien Smuggling, Texas 2016

Austin duo, San Juana Valdez Menchaca, 54, and her husband Julian Perez Perez, 57, have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in a massive undocumented alien smuggling scheme.

According to a shocking investigation, the duo conspired to smuggle more than 500 undocumented aliens into the United States over a period of ten years, ending in April 2016. The investigation revealed that the aliens typically crossed into the United States near Laredo, Texas, and were transported to the Austin area, before reaching final destinations in Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida.

The scheme involved the use of the U.S. banking system to collect human smuggling fees. Family members of smuggled aliens would deposit human smuggling payments directly into ‘funnel accounts’ controlled by the defendants, with the defendants retaining their portion of the smuggling fees and sending the remainder to co-conspirators in Mexico.

On July 7, 2016, the defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens. By pleading guilty, they admitted to their role in the smuggling scheme.

As a result of the investigation, United States District Judge Sam Sparks ordered that the defendants pay a $1.173 million money judgment representing the total amount of criminal proceeds obtained in this case, as well as $10,000 in fines ($5,000 for each defendant). The defendants will also forfeit their Cedar Creek, Texas, residence, approximately $106,390 in cash seized on the day of their arrest, and approximately $71,000 located in ten bank accounts.

Defendant San Juana Valdez Menchaca was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, while her husband Julian Perez Perez received a 33-month sentence. Both defendants will also be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing their prison terms.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and the Austin Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Galdo and Daniel M. Castillo prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

Both defendants were arrested on April 26, 2016. Valdez-Menchaca has remained in federal custody ever since, while Perez is currently on bond pending notification of a reporting date by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

HSI Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden stated that the investigation and prosecution of the case are a significant step in disrupting and dismantling the operations of transnational criminal organizations. The investigation deprived the criminal organizations from enjoying the benefits of the illicit proceeds, and prevented them from furthering the ongoing criminal enterprise.

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