A resident of Alamo, Texas, Margarito Llanes, 37, has been sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for transporting illegal aliens. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei following Llanes' guilty plea on April 22.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane issued the sentence and added three years of supervised release following the prison term. During the hearing, evidence was presented regarding a high-speed pursuit initiated by Llanes while transporting illegal aliens, which ended in a crash that injured eight passengers. The court noted that Llanes' actions were consistent with his history of violent criminal conduct, including charges of indecency with a child and robbery.
On January 18, Llanes drove a vehicle loaded with illegal aliens near the Rio Grande River in Granjeno. As law enforcement approached, he attempted to flee at speeds exceeding 70 mph over unpaved roads before crashing into a tree.
Llanes admitted to driving during the incident and acknowledged his fortune in surviving the crash. He will remain in custody until transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by Border Patrol with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.