Indiana Man Sentenced for Attempting to Transport Aliens

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Manuel Mejias-Ayala, age 46, of Washington, Indiana, was sentenced today to time served (five days in jail) and to pay a $2,000 fine for attempting to unlawfully transport aliens.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea on December 2, 2022, Mejias-Ayala admitted that on September 25, 2022 he drove his SUV from Indiana to Mooers, New York, to pick up three Mexican citizens who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States.  Mejias-Ayala also admitted that he planned to drive the three people to Chicago, Illinois, and that he was to be paid $6,000 for his efforts.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 1-year term of supervised release. 

The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.