Man from El Salvador pleads guilty to smuggling illegal aliens for profit

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a citizen of El Salvador pleaded guilty Monday to transporting illegal immigrants for his own profit.

Raul Alexander Soriano, 29, of El Salvador, pleaded guilty before by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of transporting illegal aliens.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi.  According to the guilty plea, Border Patrol agents stopped Soriano’s vehicle on December 22, 2015, near Lake Charles.  Four passengers were found in the vehicle with Soriano, and each admitted to being in the United States illegally. The passengers had paid Soriano to be transported to other areas of the United States as part of a human smuggling operation.

Soriano faces 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of August 11, 2016, was set.

United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.