Posted on 03/29/2024 2:06:29 AM PDT by ransomnote
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 19, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Ericka Aldana of Chula Vista pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she managed all aspects of a human smuggling operation - from helping to place undocumented immigrants in trunks, to coaching drivers to successfully cross the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, to staging immigrants at a Chula Vista stash house, to helping transport them to their final destinations in the U.S.
Aldana admitted that she recruited at least five drivers, procured vehicles for their use, obtained passports for them, and coached them how to dress and how to answer questions by Customs and Border Protection officers. Aldana said she crossed the border in tandem with the drivers to direct them to what she considered the less risky border lanes.
Aldana acknowledged smuggling more than 25 aliens during a five-year span, some of whom paid as much as $10,000 to be smuggled into the United States.
“Ms. Aldana avoided getting caught for years, but she could not evade accountability forever,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Federal law enforcement brought a carefully choreographed network of cross-border human smuggling to justice today.”
“Human smuggling is a serious and dangerous offense,” said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego Field Office. “This effort was an outstanding demonstration of law enforcement partnership and commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.”
“Human smuggling is driven by greed as the defendant demonstrated in this case,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “HSI and partnered law enforcement agencies will not stand for this deceitful and often violent act of human smuggling. We are committed to bringing down human smugglers one by one.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Bauman and Michael A. Deshong.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr2174-CAB
Ericka Aldana Age: 40 Chula Vista, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens Without Presentation – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Customs and Border Protection
ContactMedia Relations Director Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 or Kelly.Thornton@usdoj.gov
Updated December 19, 2023TopicHuman SmugglingComponentPress Release Number: CAS23-1219-Aldana
So...uhmmm....Federal prosecutors are convicting human smugglers ferrying people over our borders, at the same time Brandon is actively bringing them in and flying them all over the US? Well, I guess 'back when it was illegal' to enter the US illegally?
Chula Vista, aka Chula Juana, close to Venereal Beach and Nasty City.
Thanks, ‘note. Post and comment BUMP!
Why are employees and organizers of trafficking NGOs not being charged and arrested for the same.crime as this woman?
Chula Vista woman...born here,naturalized citizen, legal resident,illegal alien?
Is she deportable, is her citizenship revocable, are we stuck with her?
bkmk
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