Mexican Citizen Admits Transportation of Illegal Alien

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Feliciano Felipe Diaz-Estrada, also known as Feliciano Villas-Estrada, age 56, a Mexican citizen living in Long Island City, New York, pled guilty today to transporting an illegal alien within the United States.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Acting Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

As part of his plea, Diaz-Estrada admitted that on May 21, 2018, he drove to Montreal where he met with David Lopez-Garcia.  Diaz-Estrada then drove to the Champlain Port of Entry and entered the United States alone.  Simultaneously, Lopez-Garcia was walking across the border one-half mile east of the Champlain Port of Entry and avoided United States immigration inspection. 

Lopez-Garcia walked to a spot south of the border where he waited for Diaz-Estrada.  After entering the United States during the early morning of May 22, 2018, Diaz-Estrada drove to a cemetery in Champlain, New York, where he stopped and picked up the waiting Lopez-Garcia.  Border Patrol Agents observed the pick-up and followed Diaz-Estrada as he entered I-87 southbound.   Shortly after he entered I-87 southbound, Diaz-Estrada was stopped and arrested by Border Patrol Agents. 

Lopez-Garcia, age 46, a citizen of Mexico residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, was convicted of the misdemeanor offense of entry without inspection on June 5, 2018 and sentenced to 15 days in jail.    

As a result of his conviction, Diaz-Estrada faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn on December 6, 2018.  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 Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.