LAREDO, Texas - An 18-year-old Mexican national has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport undocumented aliens from China and Brazil within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On April 1, 2019, Samuel Vazquez-Morales was apprehended after guiding six undocumented aliens through the brush near Laredo. Five were from the People’s Republic of China, while one was a Brazilian national. Vazquez-Morales was determined to be a Mexican citizen illegally present in the United States as well.
Today, he admitted he guided the group from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, into the United States. He stated he was working for Cartel Del Noreste and that he expected to be paid $400 for the job.
One of the Chinese nationals told agents he planned to pay $30,000 to be smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
Sentencing has been set for Oct. 16, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, Vazquez-Morales faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
