Aug. 23, 2006

DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY TO PROVIDING
BLACK MARKET TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

WICHITA, KAN. – A booming black market service industry that provides transportation for illegal aliens as they look for jobs in the United States was highlighted Wednesday as federal prosecutors here announced a new development in a criminal case.

Juan Manuel Sandoval-Perez, 34, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully transporting undocumented aliens. He was the driver of a van carrying 16 illegal aliens that was stopped in May on I-35 just north of Wichita.

Sandoval-Perez entered a plea during a hearing before U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten. In his plea, Sandoval-Perez admitted that he had 16 illegal aliens aboard on May 31, 2006, when the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped his 1998 Ford Club van on I-35 just north of Wichita. The undocumented aliens were from Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

“He admitted that he knew they were unlawfully in this country and that they had no papers and feared that if they rode the bus or some other form of commercial transportation they would be caught and returned to their own countries,” Melgren said.

Two of the passengers, who were placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the scene, attempted to flee. They were tracked by a Highway Patrol search dog and found in a tree line near where they escaped.

Sandoval-Perez and five other individuals were arrested including:

– Pedro Artemo Martinez-Garcia, 31, a citizen of Mexico, who was the second driver. He pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to one count of unlawfully transporting undocumented aliens. He is set for sentencing Nov. 6.
– Rony Antonio Ramos-Ruano, 27, a citizen of El Salvador, who pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He is set for sentencing Nov. 6.
– Jocsan Enoc Medina-Ramos, 19, a citizen of Honduras, who pleaded guilty Aug. 18 to one count of escaping from federal custody. He is set for sentencing Nov. 6.
– Marco Guadiana-Medina, 31, a citizen of Mexico, who pleaded guilty Aug. 14 to one count of unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. He is set for sentencing Oct. 30.
– Irving Samuel Lopez-Cigarroa, 18, a citizen of Mexico, who pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to one count of escape from federal custody. He is set for sentencing Nov. 6.

Sandoval-Perez is set for sentencing Nov. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Melgren commended the Kansas Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson, who is prosecuting.

 

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