A Mexican national, Apolinar Francisco Paredes Espinoza, also known as "Pancho," has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for his involvement in a smuggling and labor trafficking scheme. The sentencing was announced by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley delivered the sentence in Bridgeport.
Paredes, aged 58 and last residing in Hartford, was involved in a scheme that smuggled Mexican nationals into the U.S., harbored them at residences in Hartford, forced them to work, and threatened them if they failed to pay high fees and living expenses.
The investigation began in September 2022 when the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several victims who revealed they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. They had arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero and others to cross the border for a fee between $15,000 and $20,000. Victims often had to provide property deeds as collateral before leaving Mexico.
Once in Connecticut, victims were told they owed approximately $30,000 with interest and had to pay additional costs for rent and utilities. False documents were created for them by Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators to help find employment. Some victims performed unpaid housework or assisted Paredes without reducing their debt.
Victims rarely received an accounting of their debt; failure to make payments resulted in threats against family members or revealing immigration status. Investigators identified 19 victims of this scheme; multiple victims were minors.
Paredes was previously removed from the U.S. twice but reentered illegally each time. He has been detained since March 1, 2023, pleading guilty on November 22, 2024.
Sanchez and her daughter Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez pleaded guilty to related charges earlier this year. Sanchez received a sentence of 51 months on April 11, while Ramos was sentenced to 36 months on March 7.
Judge Dooley ordered Paredes to pay restitution of $574,608 jointly with his codefendants. All three face immigration proceedings after serving their sentences.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General among others. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel prosecuted the case.
