Connecticut Man Sentenced to 121 Months for Alien Smuggling and Child Pornography Possession

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Jose Angel Portillo-Lopez, age 72, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday to serve 121 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, and possession of child pornography.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In pleading guilty, Portillo-Lopez admitted that in April of 2021, he traveled to the northern border in Burke, New York, where he assisted in the smuggling of four Vietnamese nationals from Canada into the United States for profit.  Further, the investigation revealed, and Portillo-Lopez admitted, that he possessed videos of child pornography on his cellphone.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered that Portillo-Lopez serve a 10-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol, Burke & Champlain Stations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Stitt.