Thread: TX-Sullivan City man accused of smuggling Iraqis

Sullivan City man accused of smuggling Iraqis

Associated Press - March 18, 2009 9:45 PM ET

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - A Sullivan City man accused of smuggling three Iraqis into the United States is set to appear for a detention hearing tomorrow.

Prosecutors allege 28-year-old Juan De Dios Martinez Vela sneaked the men across the Rio Grande as part of a smuggling network with links to the Middle East.

U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered the men inside Martinez's pickup truck when he was stopped March 12 north of Los Ebanos in Hidalgo County.

The (McAllen) Monitor reports defense attorney Jesus Maria Alvarez declined to discuss the case today because he hasn't had a chance to fully review the facts.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the men told agents that they had each paid $20,000 to an Iraqi smuggler to coordinate their trip to the United States.

The men remained in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=10032412

Very Interesting.... When are the Borders going to secured

Iraqi smuggler case on hold for livestock show

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 12:36 p.m.


A criminal case filed against a man accused of smuggling three Iraqi nationals into the United States has been put on hold while the defense attorney attends a livestock show in Austin.

Juan de Dios Martinez-Vela is charged with federal immigrant smuggling charges.

The Sullivan City has been jailed since March 12 and was expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos on Tuesday.

But defense attorney J.M. "Chuy" Alvarez from Rio Grande City filed a motion to postpone the hearing until Friday.

Alvarez stated in a motion filed on Monday afternoon that he has to attend a livestock show with his son in Austin.

The Rio Grande City attorney said in his motion that he is his son's "only adult supervision".

Court records show the motion was unopposed and that Ramos reset the hearing for Friday morning.

www.valleycentral.com