Following the tragic deaths of 53 migrants who were being smuggled into the United States, two men were convicted of smuggling resulting in death and injury. Back in 2022, 53 migrants suffocated to death while inside a tractor-trailer amid rising temperatures. Felipe Orduna-Torres, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, 55, could face life in prison.
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According to a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs, Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were part of an organization that smuggled a total of 66 aliens across the U.S.-Mexico border back in 2022. Moreover, each migrant was charged approximately $12,000 to $15,000 to be smuggled into the United States.
On June 27, 2022, temperatures began to rise. The tractor-trailer lacked functioning air-conditioning, which made it an unbearable place to be. Consequently, many inside lost consciousness and some even tried to claw the walls in an attempt to escape. Once the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, Texas, the smugglers discovered that 48 of the 66 migrants had died. Five other migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Among the dead were a pregnant woman and six children.
Convicted
Felipe Orduna Torres and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega were convicted of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. They were also convicted of one count each of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
Both of them could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Their sentencing will take place on June 27. Additionally, a third individual, Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, was extradited to the United States from Guatemala. It is alleged that he is the leader of the smuggling organization and was behind the smuggling tragedy.
An additional five men pleaded guilty in relation to the smuggling case, as per NBC News. Among them are the truck driver, Homero Zamorano Jr, who drove the tractor-trailer. He faces life in prison and, alongside the other four men, will be sentenced later this year.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, addressed the men's convictions.
"These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department's commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States," Galeotti said. "It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking."
