Suspected Alien Smuggler And Four Others Indicted On Immigration-Related Charges

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that a federal grand jury has returned four indictments arising from an investigation into the transportation of illegal aliens through the Middle District of Louisiana. 

On December 16, 2015, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Pedro Torrell-Matos, age 69, with transporting illegal aliens within the United States.  In a related matter, three individuals – David Gazpar-Godinez, Estuquio Orozco-Valazquez, and Simon Cruz-Pena – were also indicted by the grand jury, and each stands charged with illegal re-entry into the U.S. by a previously-deported alien.

This matter is being investigated by the Baton Rouge offices of the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.  This ongoing investigation is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick A. Menner, Jr.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury.  The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.