A 39-year-old Mexican national has pleaded guilty to four offences related to a human smuggling event that occurred earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, admitted to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
Mexican citizen Issac Azuara-Vasquez, 39, entered his plea April 10 to the same smuggling-related charges as well as selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza, an illegal alien.
On February 12, authorities were conducting surveillance in an area notorious for alien, drug and weapon smuggling and heard a boat in the Rio Grande River coming in from Mexico.
After hearing an individual in Spanish telling people to run, law enforcement witnessed a truck driving toward the river. It stopped by the river’s edge, and several individuals ran out of the brush and began climbing into the truck bed.
Azuara-Vasquez was driving and had brought an AR-15-type firearm to the scene. Ramirez-Carranza was standing by the vehicle, then retrieved the firearm and began running toward the back of the truck.
He ignored multiple commands to stop and drop the weapon.
The investigation revealed that Ramirez-Carranza was the river guide and had conspired with Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle the individuals found in the truck bed.
One indicated Ramirez-Carranza brought him across the Rio Grande River by boat, and that his relatives were paying for him to be smuggled into the United States.
Ramirez-Carranza has felony convictions for unauthorised use of a motor vehicle and illegal reentry after deportation. He was last removed from the United States in September 2009.
“The only thing worse than engaging in human smuggling is bringing along a weapon to facilitate your operation,” said Ganjei. “The rifle was there for a reason, and fortunately, the scheme was interdicted before the firearm could be used against an innocent landowner or a law enforcement officer.”
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing for Azuara-Vasquez and Ramirez-Carranza on July 2 and 30, respectively.
At those times, both men face up to 10 years in prison for the transportation charge and for bringing an alien into the United States, as well as a maximum of 15 years for each of their respective firearms offences. Ramirez-Carranza faces another 10 years for illegal reentry. All convictions also carry potential fines of up to $250,000.
Both have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
