FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2012
TEXAS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRANSPORTING NINE ILLEGAL ALIENS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting illegal aliens. Daniel Ricardo Gonzalez, 22, of Pasadena, TX, admitted that on March 31, 2012, he and a known associate transported nine illegal aliens in a Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle from Houston, TX to South Charleston, W.Va. Gonzalez further admitted that he and his associate were en route to the state of Maryland.
Gonzalez faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on October 4, 2012 by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
In a separate but similar matter last week, Miguel Marquez-Jimenez, 25, and Sergio Morales-Jimenez, 20, both of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting illegal aliens from Houston, TX to West Virginia. On April 5, 2012, Marquez-Jimenez and Morales-Jimenez participated together in transporting 14 illegal aliens in a Nissan Armada vehicle from Houston, TX to Putnam County, W.Va. The co-conspirators were en route to the state of New Jersey.
Marquez-Jimenez and Morales-Jimenez each face up to five years in prison when they are sentenced on September 24, 2012 by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
The investigations were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the South Charleston Police Department and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is handling the prosecutions.
# # #
