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Human smuggling organization leader sentenced to 10 years in prison

The developer and leader of one of the largest and most lucrative human smuggling organizations on the Southern border was sentenced here today to 10 years in prison.  Today’s sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory A. White, Northern District of Ohio; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Moskowitz; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Inspector in Charge, Pittsburgh Division, Robin M. Dalgleish.

U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver sentenced Manuel Valdez-Gomez, 54, to 120 months in prison.  Part of Valdez-Gomez’ sentence includes forfeiting properties located in the Phoenix, Ariz. area, proceeds from un-cashed money orders, a hotel and restaurant located in Nogales, Mexico, and a number of firearms and ammunition. The value of the forfeited cash and properties totals about $3 million.

ICE agents revealed that Valdez-Gomez operated an alien smuggling organization, initially assisted by relatives.  Later he expanded the operation to include non-relatives who assisted him with fee arrangements to smuggle aliens into the United States. The co-conspirators used safe houses under their control and operated by Jesus Sosa-Ortiz, Jaime Hernandez-Ornelas, J. Santana Hernandez-Gomez and others, to temporarily situate aliens who had been escorted across the border from Mexico to Nogales, Ariz.  Valdez-Gomez arranged to smuggle aliens into the United States and used drivers to transport aliens from the border area to Phoenix, Ariz., and then to ultimate destinations in Ohio, California, Florida, Nevada, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and other interior states. Drivers transported as many as 14 aliens on each trip into the interior of the United States where the aliens were met by family members or friends who then paid the smuggling fee to the drivers. Read more at ice.gov

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