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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Texas and the U.S.
February 16, 2007
NINE CHARGED WITH HARBORING MORE THAN 40 ILLEGAL ALIENS IN EAST HOUSTON RESIDENCE
"The following articles include allegations as released by the government
and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt.
As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a
court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."
(HOUSTON) Seven Mexican nationals and two United States citizens have been charged with harboring more than 40 illegal aliens at an East Houston residence, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.
All nine men were arrested by special agents of the Immigration anc Customs Enforcement on Wednesday,
February 16, 2007, at a residence located on the 600 block of Hahlo Street in east Houston. Agents were lead to the residence by an undocumented alien who had been released following the payment of $1600 to one of the alleged smugglers by an undercover agent. The ICE undercover operation was initiated following a tip made to the Houston Police Department.
At the residence, agents found a total of 46 undocumented aliens, including eight (8) juveniles ranging in age from 8 to 17 years of age, being held in the bedrooms. When their routes of escape appeared blocked by officers arriving at the scene, several of the suspects, ran to various locations throughout the house in an attempt to hide from agents. Several attempted to hide among the illegal aliens being held in the bedrooms. The illegal aliens were being held at the residence pending the payment of smuggling fees. A notebook containing names, address, telephone numbers and monetary amounts, commonly referred to as a “pollo list”, was found in the kitchen of the residence. Additionally, agents also found several firearms throughout the residence. All of the weapons were fully loaded, and some had a round in the chamber, were cocked and the safety device was off. Agents seized a 7.62 caliber SKS assault rifle, a .45 caliber semi-automatic “Hi-Point” pistol, a 40 caliber semi-automatic Glock 23, and two 45 caliber semi-automatic pistols.
The complaint alleges that one or more of the nine defendants acted as smugglers delivering loads of smuggled undocumented aliens to the residence, drivers delivering aliens to family or friends after payment of demanded fees, armed guards, and/or cooks. The aliens were reportedly kept barefoot to prevent their escape.
Two of the men charged, Edgar Cantu-Santa Cruz, 32, and Suany Ibarra,, 22, are both reportedly United States citizens. The remaining defendants, Osvaldo Garcia-Martinez, 42; Isaac Cortez-Sierra, 32; Roberto Garcia, 35; Jose N. Maya-Vargas, 23; Agustin Maya-Contreras, 44; Saul Gomez Robles, 25; and Luis Raymundo Ramirez-Castillo, 29, are all Mexican nationals. All nine defendants are presently in federal custody and pending an initial appearance in federal court at various times on Tuesday, February 20, 2007.
According to officials of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the 46 undocumented aliens found in the residence included 28 males, 10 females and 8 juveniles. The citizenship breakdown of the group is described as one (1) Brazilian, eleven (11) Mexicans, nineteen (19) Hondurans, ten (10) Salvadorans, and five (5) Guatemalans.
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