Two citizens of Mexico recently received prison sentences for conspiracy to transport noncitizens, resulting in several deaths.
Fabian Hernandez, 29, and Emmanuel Ferral-Tonche, 20, both Mexican nationals, were sentenced to a total of 60 months, or five years in prison, according to an April 26 news release by Immigration and Customs and Enforcement. Reportedly, evidence showed they marched about 24 noncitizens through Texas brush, not stopping to ensure everyone was keeping up or offering water or refreshment, resulting in the death of at least two people.
"The tragic loss of life in this case is an example of the very real risks people face when they put their lives in the hands of smugglers. Those responsible for illegally moving people through our country place personal profit ahead of public safety,” Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Antonio Shane Folden said in the release. “Driven by greed, these criminals have little regard for the health and well-being of the individuals they smuggle, which can be a deadly combination.”
The sentence came after an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Laredo Police Department, according to the release.
