Two residents from Brownsville, Texas, have been sentenced for their involvement in smuggling illegal aliens, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Ofelia Christine Monares and Michael Rosa, both 35 years old, pleaded guilty on April 1.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced Monares to 40 months in prison and Rosa to 25 months. Both individuals will also serve one year of supervised release following their imprisonment.
The sentencing included upward adjustments due to the risk posed to the lives of the aliens involved. Monares received an additional enhancement for her role as a supervisor in the criminal activity.
During their pleas, both Monares and Rosa admitted to smuggling three illegal aliens in a Nissan Sentra's trunk. On February 24, law enforcement observed suspected illegal aliens entering the vehicle near the Rio Grande River before it sped away. Authorities later stopped the car at Highway 4 checkpoint and discovered three Vietnamese nationals inside the trunk who appeared dehydrated.
Rosa was identified as the driver and claimed he had been recruited by Victor Hugo Medrano-Medrano and Monares. He stated that he was promised $10,000 for transporting the aliens to a convenience store in Brownsville.
Surveillance footage showed another vehicle crossing a checkpoint shortly after Rosa’s arrest, which led authorities to locate it with Monares driving and Medrano as a passenger.
Monares disclosed she was offered $500 per alien transported. Medrano-Medrano has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in September while remaining in custody.
Both defendants remain in custody until they are transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at a future date.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection with Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America aimed at countering illegal immigration through coordinated efforts from various justice departments including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
