Laredoan Learns Fate After Alien Harboring Jury Conviction

LAREDO, Texas – Gustavo Villegas, 28, of Laredo, has been ordered to prison following his conviction on four counts related to harboring 21 illegal aliens for profit, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal jury convicted Villegas Jan. 27, 2015, following a one-day trial and 90 minutes of deliberation.

Today, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack, who presided over the trial, handed Villegas the 27-month sentence to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.

At trial, the jury heard that Villegas took part in a conspiracy to smuggle and harbor illegal aliens in Laredo in July 2014. Villegas transported illegal aliens to a local Burger King restaurant as well as both the American Best Value Inn and Gateway Inn hotels in Laredo. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) ultimately discovered a total of 21 illegal aliens at the hotels. Through ongoing investigation, agents tracked vehicles to Villegas and others and he was arrested on Oct. 23, 2014. 

When HSI agents learned of a smuggling event which was to occur at an HEB parking lot in Laredo, they began conducting surveillance and witnessed a number of persons exit a Ford Focus car and get into a Dodge Durango truck Villegas was driving. Agents followed the vehicle to a Burger King where four of the people got out of the Dodge truck and boarded another vehicle bound for America’s Best Value hotel in Laredo. Several people got out and entered a room at the hotel. Agents witnessed similar activity leading them to the Gateway Inn hotel where more individuals were seen entering that hotel on two separate occasions. Eventually, agents knocked on the doors of both hotels and asked for consent from the occupants.

The jury heard and was provided evidence that Villegas had rented the room at America’s Best Value hotel which was found to hold seven El Salvadoran nationals and one Honduran national. Co-defendant Rodolfo Castaneda rented the Gateway Inn hotel room which held 13 El Salvadoran nationals.

At trial, the United States presented testimony from numerous HSI agents, the undocumented aliens as well as local hotel owners. The government also provided evidence of vehicle registration information connecting Villegas to multiple vehicles used in this conspiracy. 

Villegas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Castaneda previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jorge Vela and Sanjeev Bhasker prosecuted the case.