A Katy man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of transporting illegal aliens.
Yabar Ayan Portes-Arevalo, 23, pleaded guilty to the crime on February 18, 2019.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey handed Portes-Arevalo a 21-month sentence. He could also lose his resident status in the United States.
The court found that Portes-Arevalo endangered the lives of the illegal aliens.
On December 10, 2018, Portes-Arevalo approached the primary inspection lane of the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita in a Ford F-150 pickup with a couch and dresser loaded in the bed of the truck wrapped in plastic.
During a routine inspection, Portes-Arevalo became visibly nervous, at which time the Border Patrol conducted an x-ray examination of the vehicle, which showed abnormalities inside the furniture.
Agents removed the plastic and discovered three undocumented aliens hidden in the couch and three more inside the dresser. The dresser had been nailed shut.
Yabar Ayan Portes-Arevalo is in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Barnes is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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