New Jersey Man Sentenced for Transporting Aliens

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Francisco Vidals-Escamilla, age 34, of Garfield, New Jersey, was sentenced today to time served (approximately 221 days in jail) for unlawfully transporting aliens, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Vidals-Escamilla admitted that, on or about October 31, 2022, someone offered to pay Vidals-Escamilla $1,100 to pick up four people and bring them to New York City.  Vidals-Escamilla drove to a location in or near Churubusco, New York, within about 2.5 miles of the United States-Canadian border. When Vidals-Escamilla arrived, four people were waiting by the side of the road near a wooded area. All four were citizens of Mexico and had unlawfully entered the United States.  The people entered Vidals-Escamilla’s car and he drove away. Border Patrol agents stopped Vidals-Escamilla’s car and arrested him a few minutes later.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 1-year term of supervised release.

The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe prosecuted the case.