Leader of South Texas human smuggling organization, 2 others sentenced to federal prison

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Three people were sentenced Thursday to federal prison for their roles related to a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. 

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol as part of the South Texas Campaign.

Homero Gonzalez-Carranza, 30, citizen of Mexico, who resided in Houston, was sentenced to 151 months in prison.  Gonzalez-Carranza pleaded guilty to being a boss in the human smuggling conspiracy which existed from January 2007 until January 2015.  Since he is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings upon his release from federal prison.

Eduardo Luis Pompa, 26, also of Houston, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.  He was convicted June 11 following a two-day trial and 45 minutes of deliberation.  Co-conspirator Lisa Quintanilla, 46, of Premont, Texas, who had previously pleaded guilty for her role in the human smuggling operation, was sentenced Aug. 20 to 34 months in federal prison.  

Gonzalez-Carranza oversaw the transportation of illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston. Illegal aliens were harbored at stash houses in Houston until ultimately being transported to their final destinations within the United States.

During this conspiracy, illegal aliens suffered injuries during transport, such as during high-speed chases and vehicles crashes.  On March 19, 2014, 115 illegal aliens were discovered in a house in Houston. They were being held against their will at the stash house which was about 1,400 square feet with boarded up windows and doors.

During Pompa’s trial, which involved the testimony of 15 government witnesses, evidence established that Pompa served as a scout for the alien smuggling organization. In that role, he drove ahead of or behind vehicles transporting illegal aliens to look for law enforcement.  Pompa served in this capacity from early 2014 until July 14, 2014, when he was arrested with nine other conspirators transporting 57 aliens to Houston.

Quintanilla also served as a scout for the alien smuggling organization from January to June 2014. Lucia Mendez, 35, of Pasadena, Texas, who previously pleaded guilty, also worked for the alien smuggling organization.  She provided vehicles that were used by other members of the organization to transport illegal aliens and served in this role during 2014.  Mendez is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 29. Mendez, Pompa, and Quintanilla worked for Gonzalez-Carranza.

Additionally, evidence also established that this criminal organization transported multiple loads of illegal aliens on a weekly and even daily basis. On April 23, 2014, a load driver for the criminal organization was arrested transporting five illegal aliens near Premont. That driver attempted to flee, traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour and finally crashing into a tree, causing serious bodily injuries to the aliens. Quintanilla served as a scout for this particular load. The evidence also established that Pompa worked as a scout that same day, but for another load of transported aliens.

It is estimated that thousands of illegal aliens were transported and harbored during this conspiracy.

Gonzalez-Carranza and Pompa will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Quintanilla will remain on bond pending her designation to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, also to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad W. Cowan, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.