Mexican alien-smuggling boss pleads guilty in Houston to harboring, transporting illegal aliens
Responsible for holding 115 people against their will in small Houston stash house in 2014
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Mexican man, who was responsible for holding 115 smuggled aliens against their will in a small Houston stash house in 2014, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for his role in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens.
This sentence was announced by 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 (HSI).
Homero Gonzalez-Carranza, 30, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to being a boss for transporting illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston from January 2007 until January 2015. Illegal aliens were harbored at stash houses in Houston until being transported to their final destinations throughout the United States. During the conspiracy, illegal aliens suffered injuries during transport, such as during high-speed chases and vehicles crashes.
In one instance on March 19, 2014, 115 illegal aliens were discovered in a small house in Houston. They were held against their will at the 1400 square foot stash house with boarded up windows and doors. It is estimated that thousands of illegal aliens were transported and harbored during this conspiracy.
“Those responsible for supporting smuggling and harboring illegal aliens place personal profit ahead of public safety and border security,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “The results of this case should remind those involved in this dangerous trade that their illegal actions come at a high price.”
Gonzalez-Carranza is scheduled to be sentenced July 14. At that time, Gonzalez-Carranza faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad W. Cowan, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
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