BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Leszek Budzyna, 50, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to encouraging and inducing an alien to illegally enter the United States for financial gain, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The defendant was sentenced to time served.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on March 1, 2016, the defendant attempted to facilitate the entry of two aliens into the United States via the Peace Bridge. Budzyna was driving a tractor trailer and, when questioned during primary inspection, stated that he was traveling alone. During an x-ray examination of the tractor trailer and subsequent inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers identified two aliens concealed in the passenger compartment of the truck. The defendant intended to drive the two aliens into the United States in return for $10,000. Budzyna knew that the two aliens could not lawfully enter the United States.
The plea and sentencing are the culmination of an investigation by officers of the United States Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Acting Director of Field Operations Rose Hilmey.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
