Thread: L.A. bus company under investigation smuggling immigrants

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635213117,00.html

2 men face federal immigrant smuggling charges

2 face charges of smuggling immigrants; L.A. bus company under investigation






By Geoffrey Fattah
Deseret Morning News
Two men face federal immigrant smuggling charges as part of a larger investigation into a Los Angeles bus company that federal agents say may be running an underground immigrant smuggling operation.
Jaime Sanchez-DrouillasIsaac Morales-Ysidro The case came to light Thursday morning when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a van that was headed east on I-80 just outside of Coalville. In addition to the driver and passenger, the trooper reported, the van was laden with 15 others.
The driver and lead passenger then told police they were en route from Los Angeles to New York City and were being paid to smuggle illegal immigrants.
Agents have charged 63-year-old Jaime Sanchez-Drouillas and 26-year-old Isaac Morales-Ysidro with transporting illegal immigrants. Sanchez-Drouillas, who is a legal resident alien from Chile, and Morales-Ysidro, who is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, face 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
Both men are being held in federal custody in Utah pending charges.
According to federal court documents, both men said they had been hired by the Romy Bus Co., out of Los Angeles, Calif., to drive 15 illegal immigrants across the United States to New York City. Sanchez-Drouillas said on March 31, he picked up the van at the bus company "already loaded with passengers."
The men told agents that the wife of the bus company's owner was running the smuggling operation and had coached them on how to handle a police stop. "The owner of the bus company told them to say they were looking for work and all the people in the van were family who had contributed to purchase the van," the charging documents state.
A criminal history check revealed that Sanchez-Drouillas had been arrested last April in Grand Junction, Colo., where he was identified as a co-driver of a smuggling delivery with 14 illegal immigrants. No criminal charges were filed against Sanchez-Drouillas. "Due to his status as a lawful permanent resident, no administrative immigration charges were filed on Sanchez-Drouillas and he was released from custody," federal agents state.
Sanchez-Drouillas had told agents that he had smuggled others into the United States on at least four or five previous occasions and said he took a level of professional pride in his illegal activities. "Sanchez-Drouillas stated he takes pride in being a driver of illegal aliens because they come across the border and need assistance in the form of transportation, food and other support he provides," documents state.
Interviews with several illegal immigrants detailed some of their journeys to get into the United States. Agents said many had family members "sponsor" them and that Morales-Ysidro was in charge of calling each passenger's family in the United States to arrange delivery upon leaving Los Angeles. Some said they paid $100 to $150 up front and would have to pay more upon arrival. Others said they were being charged $700 a person for the transportation.
U.S. District Attorney for Utah spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said the investigation is ongoing and that federal agents are focusing attention on the involvement of Romy Bus Co., in California.
Of the 15 illegal immigrants, 14 were identified as Mexican, while one was identified as having traveled from Ecuador.

They were doing the jobs Americans don't want to do

Agents have charged 63-year-old Jaime Sanchez-Drouillas and 26-year-old Isaac Morales-Ysidro with transporting illegal immigrants. Sanchez-Drouillas, who is a legal resident alien from Chile, and Morales-Ysidro, who is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, face 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

Sounds like more drain on the taxpayers for the prison system What happened to the illegals I wonder? Were they released perhaps on their own recognizance?

Newmexican,,

YOU KNOW, that if the illegals were released on their own recognizance, that each and every one of them would show up for court.

"Due to his status as a lawful permanent resident, no administrative immigration charges were filed on Sanchez-Drouillas and he was released from custody," federal agents state.

"Sanchez-Drouillas stated he takes pride in being a driver of illegal aliens because they come across the border and need assistance in the form of transportation, food and other support he provides," documents state.

GRRRRR!