NEW YORK: Four people pleaded guilty in a human smuggling conspiracy that led to two deaths after a fatal rollover crash in October.
33 years old Julia Resendez, 18 years old Juan Manuel Garcia, Eloy Mendoza, 26; and Jose Manuel Lovato-Balleza, 23, all pleaded guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally transport immigrants into the US, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The four were arrested in October after a rollover left two Guatemalan nationals dead and 10 others injured.
The crash happened Oct. 2 north of La Joya near Farm-to-Market Road 2221, just east of County Line Road, when Garcia, who was smuggling people in a Chevrolet pickup truck, attempted to perform a U-turn as US Border Patrol agents pursued him, authorities said.
Garcia lost control of the truck, drove through a fence and the vehicle rolled over several times. Garcia was identified by other passengers as the driver of the truck. Two Guatemalan nationals died as a result of the crash — one at the scene and another at a local hospital a few days later.
Homeland Security Investigations agents located two other men that had fled the scene after the crash. Both men eventually told agents of two separate stash house locations, one on the 1900 block of Huisache Street and one on the 100 block of Ebony Street, both in Sullivan City, records show.
There, agents were able to locate 15 more immigrants 10 of whom were in a shed that was locked from the outside, authorities said.
Mendoza and Lovato admitted to investigators of their involvement in operating and maintaining the stash houses.
Mendoza stated he would receive $20 per person while Lovato was paid $30 per person for feeding and helping transport immigrants, records show.
Resendez, who was believed to be the main caretaker at the stash house — was also arrested during the raid on the stash house, authorities said.
All four will remain in custody until a scheduled sentencing hearing in late March, where they are to stand before U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
Garcia faces up to life in prison while Mendoza, Lovato and Resendez each face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
