A resident of Rio Grande City, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for transporting an illegal alien. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jason Al Venecia, aged 42, pleaded guilty on March 26 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to serve 24 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. During the court hearing, evidence was presented showing that Venecia used his girlfriend and her minor daughter to help smuggle the illegal alien through a checkpoint.
The incident occurred on January 2 when Venecia approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a Cadillac SRX with two adult males in the front seats and an adult and minor female in the backseat. The front male passenger admitted to being illegally present in the United States.
Authorities discovered multiple proof-of-life videos on Venecia's cell phone from illegal aliens who had crossed the Rio Grande River. Text messages indicated that Venecia would receive $1,250 once the illegal aliens reached their next destination.
While awaiting sentencing on bond, Venecia assisted his girlfriend in another attempt to smuggle illegal aliens further into the United States, leading to his bond revocation and custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
Venecia’s girlfriend has also pleaded guilty in her separate case prosecuted in McAllen Division.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Pruitt prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, which utilizes resources from various Department of Justice initiatives aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
