http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/070508cleveland.htm
May 08, 2007
Human smuggling organization leader sentenced to 10 years in prison
Twenty people sentenced to date as part of this conspiracy
CLEVELAND - 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.
The alien smuggling operation also provided the smuggled illegal aliens with fraudulent alien registration cards, social security cards, and other identification documents, for an additional fee above the fee they were paying to be smuggled into the United States. The U.S. mail was often used to transfer fraudulent documents, information necessary to preparing those fraudulent documents, and payments. The drivers of the loads of illegal aliens used Express Mail to transfer large amounts of cash and money orders to the co-conspirators in Phoenix, Ariz., thereby lessening the risk, if apprehended, of being identified as an alien smuggler and alien transporter.
The investigation concluded that drivers and operators of safe houses located in northern states avoided detection and facilitated sending the proceeds of the illegal alien smuggling activities in a structured way to avoid the reporting requirements related to cash transactions greater than $10,000 and $3,000.
“ICE will not allow alien smuggling organizations to use Northern Ohio as a destination for their human cargo,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations for Ohio and Michigan. “Human smugglers pose a very real threat to our nation’s border security. Today’s sentencing should remind these smugglers and would-be smugglers that ICE special agents in Cleveland and around the country stand ready to bring them to justice.”
To date, 20 co-defendants have been sentenced. Most recently sentenced were four members of Valdez-Gomez’ immediate family on April 24 as follows:
Ismael Valdez, 36, son, a driver for the criminal organization, 60 months incarceration.
Yolanda Sosa, 28, daughter, a money launderer for the criminal organization, 46 months incarceration.
Aurora Valdez, 50, wife, also was sentenced to six months of home detention for her role in the criminal organization.
Jesus Sosa-Ortiz, 29, son-in-law of Manuel Valdez-Gomez and his right-hand assistant until his apprehension two years ago on charges of illegal reentry following deportation, was sentenced to 96 months incarceration.
Three additional co-defendants have pleaded guilty to one or more federal charges and await sentencing next month; and one charged co-defendant, Ricardo Aranda-Moreno remains a fugitive.
ICE initiated the joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Investigation Service. ICE Offices of Investigation in the following cities took part in the investigation: Cleveland, Ohio; Phoenix, Ariz.; Detroit, Mich., and Grand Rapids, Mich. In addition, state and local authorities in Ohio assisted with this investigation, including: the Painesville Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Lake County Narcotics Agency, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and East Lake Police Department.
U.S. Attorneys Offices in Phoenix, Ariz., and Grand Rapids, Mich., also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip J. Trippi, Gary D. Arbeznik and James L. Morford prosecuted this case.
— ICE —