2 held in Seattle-area human smuggling case

By TIM KLASS, The Associated Press
1:42 p.m. October 8, 2009

SEATTLE — Two Seattle-area residents are being held on human smuggling conspiracy and related charges involving activity dating back to 2006.

Records show Maria Bartola Santos-Gonzalez and Juan Gonzalez-Guerra were arrested Thursday, a day after they were indicted by a federal grand jury.

Each is charged with conspiracy to smuggle and harbor aliens and eight counts of harboring an illegal alien. In addition, Santos-Gonzalez is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, five counts of aiding and abetting visa fraud and eight counts of aiding and abetting human smuggling.

They are accused of slipping adults and minors from Aguascalientes, Mexico, into the U.S. at Calexico, Calif., about 95 miles east of San Diego, for $3,000 to $3,500 each, and of bringing them to their garage in Pacific.

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