Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, a 47-year-old Mexican national residing in Vernon, Connecticut, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley delivered the sentence for Ramos's role in a scheme involving the smuggling and labor trafficking of individuals from Mexico into the United States.
The investigation began in September 2022 when the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who revealed they were smuggled into the U.S. and brought to Hartford. According to court documents, these victims made arrangements with Ramos’s mother, Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, and others to enter the U.S., agreeing to pay between $15,000 and $20,000 after their arrival. They were required to hand over property deeds as collateral before leaving Mexico.
Upon reaching Connecticut, victims were informed they owed approximately $30,000 plus interest for rent, food, gas, and utilities. Co-conspirators provided false documentation like Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards and assisted them in finding employment in Hartford. Victims also had to perform unpaid housework without debt reduction.
Victims seldom received debt accounting; failure to make payments led to threats against them or their families back in Mexico. Investigators have identified 19 victims so far; multiple minors were among them.
Ramos has been detained since her arrest on October 5, 2023. She pleaded guilty on October 4, 2024, to conspiracy charges related to encouraging illegal entry and harboring aliens. Judge Dooley ordered Ramos to pay $574,608 in restitution. As part of her plea deal, she agreed to sell a house used during these offenses but violated this agreement by selling it below appraised value without notifying authorities.
Ramos will face immigration proceedings following her prison term completion.
Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero has also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This case was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General among others and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.
