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Press Release

Canadian Resident Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hector Vinicio Howell-Calvo, age 51, a legal resident of Canada and citizen of Costa Rica, pled guilty today to smuggling three Mexican citizens from Canada to the United States. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Steven Bronson, United States Customs and Border Protection Port Director for the Champlain Port of Entry.

During his plea, Howell-Calvo admitted to smuggling three men who were Mexican citizens into the United States in exchange for a total of 9,000 Canadian dollars.  Howell-Calvo further admitted that he drove the men from Montreal to the Canadian border just north of Mooers, New York.  Howell-Calvo then dropped off the men, who crossed the international border on foot, and intended to pick them up on the United States side of the border, after Howell-Calvo had entered the United States separately through the Mooers Port of Entry. 

Sentencing is set for September 18, 2019 before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.  Howell-Calvo faces at least 5 years and up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment 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.

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shira C. Hoffman.

Updated May 10, 2019

Topic
Immigration