LOS ANGELES - A federal grand jury today indicted 12 defendants for their roles in an alien smuggling ring that brought illegal aliens to the Los Angeles area and, for hefty fees, arranged to move those people around the country. Paperwork recently collected in the investigation indicates that the organization transported at least 5,400 illegal aliens since mid-2004.
The indictment follows the arrest of six of the defendants nearly two weeks ago by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Today's indictment charges all 12 defendants with conspiracy to harbor, conceal, and transport illegal aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
ICE's investigation into the operation - dubbed the "three Franciscos" smuggling ring because the three lead defendants are named Francisco - began in May 2005 when the Los Angeles Police Department discovered two smuggling "drop houses" in a 24-hour period in South Los Angeles. More than 140 illegal aliens were packed into those houses.
While a group of illegal aliens was being transported from Arizona into the Los Angeles area last year, a driver for the organization crashed the minivan he was driving into a highway median near Barstow, according to the indictment. The driver and 10 illegal aliens were ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries, including crushed internal organs and cerebral hemorrhaging.
According to court documents previously filed in the case, ICE agents uncovered an organization run by Guatemalan nationals who provided housing and transportation to illegal aliens who had previously been smuggled into the United States from Mexico, Central American and South America. The smuggled aliens were brought to drop houses in Los Angeles and Lancaster, where they were housed until they or family members paid up to $5,600 each for the domestic portion of their journey.
"Organizations that operate like this one see people as nothing more than currency," said Jennifer Silliman, acting special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles. "ICE remains committed to shutting down vulnerabilities in our immigration system by attacking and dismantling the organized networks that illegally transport illegal aliens for profit."
Those indicted today are:
If convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.