A Mexican national living in Texas illegally was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for his role in a human smuggling attempt resulting in the death of a Honduran woman.
Nelson Bahena-Garcia, a 43-year-old undocumented immigrant living in Mission, Texas, was sentenced for conspiracy to commit hostage taking and admitted the victim died during the human smuggling incident, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release. He pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 2, 2021.
"Not only did this human smuggler conspire to undermine our nation’s immigration laws for his own profit, but he did so with a callous and reckless disregard for the lives of the migrants who had entrusted him with their care,” Mark Dawon, special agent in charge of HSI Houston said in the release.
The investigation was launched after the fiance of a missing Honduran woman informed authorities he was unable to pay for her release. According to the news release, law enforcement found her undressed body on a remote country road in Victoria County. She appeared to have sustained physical trauma.
The investigation established that, at one point, she had needed to be carried after collapsing during the trafficking operation. According to the release, a witness reported Bahena-Garcia ordered the woman be left in the wilderness to die despite her pleas. Bahena-Garcia confessed his driver stranded her on the side of the highway.
If he is released from custody, Bahena-Garcia will likely face deportation procedures as he is not a U.S. citizen.
