Smugglers to be sentenced in 53 migrant deaths from 2022 human smuggling tragedy in Texas
Share this @internewscast.com

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Two individuals found guilty of federal charges related to the deaths of 53 migrants discovered in the back of a stifling tractor-trailer in Texas in 2022 are facing potential life sentences when they appear for sentencing on Friday.

Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega will be the first among several defendants to receive their sentences for their involvement in the San Antonio incident, which stands as the deadliest attempt at human smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border to date. In March, a jury found them guilty of participating in a human smuggling conspiracy that led to fatalities and injuries.

Prosecutors described Orduna-Torres as the leader of the smuggling operation inside the U.S. and Gonzales-Ortega as his top assistant.

The migrants were from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, and they had paid between $12,000 and $15,000 each to be brought into the United States, as indicated by the indictment. Their journey reached the Texas border city of Laredo, where they were loaded into a tractor-trailer with a malfunctioning air conditioning system for a three-hour trip to San Antonio.

As the temperature rose inside the trailer, those inside screamed and banged the walls of the trailer for help or tried to claw their way out, investigators said. Most eventually passed out. When the trailer was opened in San Antonio, 48 people were already dead. Another 16 were taken to hospitals, where five more died. The dead included six children and a pregnant woman.

Investigators said the Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega worked with human smuggling operations in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, and shared routes, guides, stash houses, trucks and trailers. Orduna-Torres provided the address in Laredo where they would be picked up, and Gonzalez-Ortega met them there.

Five other men previously pleaded guilty to felony charges in the smuggling case, including the truck driver Homero Zamorano Jr., who was found hiding near the trailer in some bushes. Zamorano faces up to life in prison when sentenced in December. The other defendants are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

The incident is the deadliest among tragedies that have claimed thousands of lives in recent decades as people attempt to cross the U.S. border from Mexico. Ten immigrants died in 2017 after they were trapped inside a truck parked at a Walmart store in San Antonio. In 2003, the bodies of 19 immigrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of San Antonio.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood

Parents Frantically Seek Information on Campers Missing After Texas Flood

Parents are searching for information about their children’s whereabouts as dozens remain…
Deadly social media trend threatens kids, homeowners defending themselves: 'children are going to get killed’

Dangerous Social Media Challenge Puts Kids at Risk; Homeowners Take Precautions: ‘This Could End Tragically’

Potentially dangerous social media trends are getting kids, and potentially homeowners, into…
Man arrested on corpse abuse charges in Montevallo

Man Charged with Corpse Abuse in Montevallo Arrested

MONTEVALLO, Ala. (WIAT) — A 56-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges…
Madison Keys loses in stunning Wimbledon upset

Madison Keys Faces Unexpected Defeat in Wimbledon Shocker

LONDON — In a tournament full of surprises, Wimbledon added another unexpected…
Missouri judge again blocks many of the state's anti-abortion laws

Missouri Judge Repeatedly Blocks Several State Anti-Abortion Laws

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — On Thursday, a Missouri judge halted numerous…
Florida expired tags: Potential consequences and tips to avoid registration spam

Expired Florida Tags: Consequences and Tips to Steer Clear of Registration Spam

Nearly 700,000 Florida drivers have expired tags, according to recent data from…
JSO: Woman shot, killed during party on Rover Drive hour after Fourth of July

JSO: Woman Fatally Shot at Rover Drive Party Just After Fourth of July Celebrations

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said five people were detained following the deadly…
Kelly Clarkson delays Vegas residency debut, citing vocal strain

Kelly Clarkson postpones Vegas residency debut due to vocal strain

“I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so…
A fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war tests the harmony of Los Angeles' huge Iranian community

A Delicate Ceasefire in the Israel-Iran Conflict Challenges the Unity of Los Angeles’ Large Iranian Community

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Tehrangeles” in West Los Angeles is home to…
Dalai Lama says he hopes to live beyond 130 years

Dalai Lama Expresses Hopes of Living Past 130 Years

The aged Dalai Lama expressed his desire to live beyond 130 years…
New interstellar comet will keep a safe distance from Earth, NASA says

NASA Reports: Incoming Interstellar Comet to Maintain Safe Distance from Earth

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has discovered an interstellar comet that’s wandered…
Can We Get Rid of the Disgraceful American Federation of Teachers Yet?

Randi Weingarten’s July 4th Tweet Drew Laughter – But Not in the Way She Intended

Many people were acknowledging Independence Day on Friday.  A post by Randi…