LAREDO, Texas - A 43-year-old resident of Laredo has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in an alien smuggling incident which led to the kidnapping of multiple illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
Jesus Osorio admitted during his re-arraignment hearing today that he conspired to harbor and transport undocumented aliens in violation of law.
On July 5, 2016, law enforcement responded to an incident at a residence in Laredo where eight undocumented aliens were kidnapped and held hostage against their will. They had previously made arrangements to be smuggled into the United States. After their arrival, they stayed at a Laredo residence for two weeks.
They were then transported to a second location where Angel Alexis Diaz, 20, Jose Israel Diaz, 43, and Julio Osorio, 40, all of Laredo, held them hostage. The victims reported being beaten, forced to undress and ordered to contact family members to pay a ransom for their release.
Through further investigation, authorities learned Jesus Osorio was the man who drove the aliens from the stash house to the second residence where they were eventually kidnapped. During the course of the offense, one of the undocumented aliens was seriously injured and required hospitalization.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga accepted the plea. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 2, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, the Osorio faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Angel Diaz, Jose Diaz and Julio Osorio were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap illegal aliens and received sentences of 262-360 months in prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. dos Santos is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
