Four Central Texas Human Smugglers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling

Four central Texas human smugglers have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in an operation where the criminal network made in excess of $1 million dollars by smuggling individuals into the United States from various parts of the globe, announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio.

The four appeared in Austin late Friday afternoon before United States District Judge Lee Yeakel and received the following sentences:

• Alfredo Torres-Alvarez, 31-year-old undocumented alien residing in Austin, sentenced to 57 months imprisonment;
• Elvira Murrillo-Angel, 32-year-old undocumented alien residing in Sandia, TX, sentenced to 27 months imprisonment;
• Delia Catalina Angel, 31-year-old Austin resident, sentenced to two years imprisonment; and,
• Norma Parra, 32-year-old Austin resident, sentenced to one year imprisonment.

All four defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens.  Per their plea agreements, Torres agreed to forfeit $282,000 and Murillo agreed to forfeit $200,000 to the Government.

“These sentences clearly illustrate the serious consequences faced by those who attempt to make money by exploiting others,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio.  “Human smugglers view their clients as nothing more than a payday, and have no qualms about using threats and violence to collect their smuggling fees.”

According to court documents and statements at sentencing, Delia Catalina Angel was the cell leader of a vast human smuggling organization with connections in Mexico, San Antonio and Austin.  The organization successfully smuggled hundreds of undocumented individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras into the United States.  

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Austin Police Department and Travis County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Galdo prosecuted this case.

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