A 67-year-old Mexican national has been brought to justice for his role in smuggling an unaccompanied minor across the border.
Victor Manuel Monsivais, 67, was apprehended in the early hours of July 30, 2019, in an HEB parking lot in south San Antonio, Texas, while transporting an unaccompanied 8-year-old child from Mexico.
According to evidence presented at trial, Monsivais intended to hand over the child to another person involved in smuggling the child from Mexico into the United States.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as officers from the San Antonio Police Department, were waiting for Monsivais at the HEB based on investigative intelligence about the intended exchange.
On August 19, 2021, Monsivais was found guilty by a federal jury in Del Rio of one count of illegal alien transportation in violation of Section 1324 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
‘Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our office and that of our valued partners as we continue to work together to vigorously enforce federal law and protect our communities,’ said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff.
‘This sentence serves as an appropriate punishment for Monsivais’ role in the smuggling event. Without law enforcement intervention he would have handed over the child to a stranger, potentially exposing the child to significant danger,’ said Shane Folden, Special Agent in Charge, HSI San Antonio.
Co-defendants Elida Kassandra Moreno, 28, a United States citizen, and Nery Uriostegui-Dominguez, 28, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to bringing in and harboring aliens and conspiracy to bringing in and harboring aliens.
Monsivais was sentenced to 33 months in prison on .
Related Federal Cases
- Richard Sanchez, Transporting Undocumented Migrants, Texas 2017 · Texas
- Manuel Victor Gastelum, Human Smuggling, Arizona 2024 · Texas
- Robert G. Smith, Transporting Undocumented Aliens, Texas 2024 · Texas
- Juan Manuel Tena, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2024 · Texas
- Carmelo Diaz-Gopar, Transporting and Harboring Aliens, Texas 2012 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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