Alien Smuggler Arrested in Amsterdam

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anselmo Padron Martinez, age 47, a citizen of Mexico residing in Middletown, Virginia, was arrested Tuesday in Amsterdam, New York, during an effort to smuggle six Mexican citizens.  

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the criminal complaints, Amsterdam Police stopped a Virginia-registered vehicle following a traffic infraction at 2:50 a.m. on November 5.  Federal agents eventually responded and determined that the six passengers in the vehicle were illegal aliens from Mexico who had secretly entered the United States from Canada near Champlain, New York, mere hours prior to the vehicle stop.   

Padron Martinez is charged with transporting aliens unlawfully present in the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain.  He appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 8.  Of the smuggled aliens, five were detained and appeared before Judge Stewart today on misdemeanor charges of entry without inspection.  The charges in the complaints are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges filed against Padron Martinez carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to 3 years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.    

These cases are being investigated by HSI, with assistance from ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.