Posted on 12/16/2006 10:16:54 AM PST by NormsRevenge
A Mexican man who led authorities on a high-speed chase in an SUV hauling illegal immigrants and nearly 700 pounds of marijuana was sentenced to more than 19 years in state prison.
Jovanni Mendoza, 26, of Tijuana, was sentenced Friday in federal court. He was convicted earlier this year of 10 felony counts of smuggling aliens and drugs.
More than two dozen U.S. Border Patrol agents showed up in court to urge a stiff sentence for Mendoza, saying he was suspected of making many dangerous, high-speed runs in San Diego County during his decade-long smuggling career.
Mendoza had at least 10 run-ins with the California Highway Patrol and the Border Patrol in the years leading up to his arrest, Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Kraemer said.
"The county is going to be a lot safer with this dangerous smuggler off the roads," said Donald McDermott, who supervised the Border Patrol unit that arrested Mendoza.
Authorities said Mendoza was transporting five illegal immigrants and 11 suitcases full of marijuana in his Chevrolet Suburban when the car was stopped last year by CHP officers for having an expired registration.
Mendoza attempted to get away, driving west in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8, but crashed head-on into a CHP vehicle and fled on foot. Nobody was hurt.
He was arrested by Border Patrol agents a week later after being stopped at a checkpoint on the same highway, according to court documents.
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw sentenced Mendoza to 235 months in prison, calling him a public danger. She also ordered him to pay the CHP $9,874 in restitution for damage to its vehicle.
1 down, 20-30 million to go.....
bump
What's your call?
Here legal, illegal?
It doesn't say anywhere in the story, and to quote you "The person is innocent until proven guilty and to force someone to prove they are not a criminal is extremely anti-American and itself unconstitutional act."
And this is what our utopian globalist elitsts want to force upon the USA with the North American Union --- one big happy family of crime, poverty, and corruption.
He was caught in the commission of a crime. The only connection is a last name.
He was caught in the commission of a crime. The only connection is a last name.
Oops! me bad , story gives his address as TJ.
"aren't almost all coyotes illegal themselves"
Actually I don't have an answer for that. I would suspect that it would be easier for someone with legal status to be a coyote but in actual numbers I have not a clue.
ping
Please click on the link and deport Elvira!!
http://capwiz.com/sicminc/issues/alert/?alertid=9202486
Send an illegal alien home for Christmas!!
Setting aside the marijuana. Why would any of you that dont see a reason to deport illegals want a smuggler prosecuted? Arent they just serving our economy by getting those much needed hard working hispanics here?
These people should be executed to send the proper message!
Bttt!
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