Thread: Prosecutor: Illegal immigrants shot ‘coyotes' UPDATE

June 3, 2011
Updated: 1:55 p.m.

Prosecutor: Illegal immigrants shot coyotes'

By LARRY WELBORN
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA “ An Orange County prosecutor told a jury Friday that two men shot and killed one "coyote" “ a person who smuggles illegal immigrants“ and wounded another during what was supposed to be a human trafficking exchange in a Santa Ana parking lot more than a decade ago.

Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin said Manuel Hernandez Juarez, of Santa Ana, showed up at the dropoff on April 6, 2000, behind a Burger King restaurant and secretly handed one of two guns to Huber Juarez Vasquez, who was one of several illegal immigrants being smuggled into the United States by two coyotes.

The exchange then quickly erupted in gunfire, Yellin said in his opening statements of a murder trial for Juarez and Vasquez. Victor Camacho, one of the smugglers, was shot in the chest and killed. Jose Luz Garcia, who was driving the Chevrolet Suburban carrying the illegal immigrants, was shot in the abdomen but survived.

The shooters fled into the night, but Yellin said the evidence he presents during the trial will show "that the two shooters are (Juarez and Vasquez)."

Yellin said cell phone records and ballistics tests link Juarez, who now is 59, to the crime scene.

Vasquez, 38, confessed to shooting Garcia when he was detained in Oregon in 2001, Yellin told the jury.

Authorities identified Juarez as Vasquez' father when both men were arrested and charged with murder in September 2009, but no mention was made of their relationship in court Friday.

Deputy Public Defender Lawrence Volk, Juarez's attorney, told the jury in his opening statement that no one at the crime scene could positively identify his client as one of the gunmen.

"He was not the man who showed up," Volk insisted. "He was not involved in the shooting."

Deputy Alternate Defender Dave Dziejowski, Vasquez's attorney, acknowledged that his client was being smuggled into the country, and that another man did hand him a handgun during what was supposed to be the drop-off behind the Burger King.

"What happened next is what this entire trial is about," Dziejowski said.

He claimed that Vasquez merely brandished the gun that had been handed to him but had no intention of shooting anyone.

But his gun went off, the defense attorney said, when the driver of the Suburban scuffled for the gun.

Dziejowski also told the jury that the evidence will show that the smugglers had earlier threatened the illegal immigrants inside the SUV that they "could end up dead" if the smugglers were not paid for getting them across the border.

Juarez and Vasquez are both charged with murder, attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, and a sentencing enhancement for using a weapon and causing death or injury.

If convicted, both face a maximum sentence of 67 years to life in state prison.

Juarez was arrested in September 2009 when he was released from Kern County federal prison after serving a sentence on unrelated charges. He was going to be deported upon his release.

Vasquez was arrested the same day while in custody in Oregon on an unrelated driving under the influence charge.

Contact the writer: lwelborn@ocregister.com or 714-834-37884

http://www.ocregister.com/news/vasquez- ... z-one.html

Hey, the coyote just wanted a better life for himself and his family too!

Published: June 15, 2011
Updated: 12:40 p.m.

Father, son convicted of killing 'coyote'

By LARRY WELBORN
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA “ A father and son were convicted Wednesday of killing one "coyote" “ a person who smuggles illegal immigrants “ and wounding another during a human trafficking exchange in a Santa Ana parking lot more than a decade ago.

Manuel Hernandez Juarez, now 59, of Santa Ana, was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder for his role in the shooting death of smuggler Victor Manuel Camacho at what was supposed to be a drop-off on April 6, 2000, behind a Burger King restaurant on 17th Street in Santa Ana, and the wounding of Jose Luz Garcia.

Juarez faces a 67-years-to-life prison term at his sentencing on Aug. 4 by Superior Court Judge W. Michael Hayes.

Co-defendant Huber Juarez Vasquez, Juarez' son, now 38, was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder. He faces a potential sentence of 55 years to life.

Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin argued that Juarez was supposed to bring money to pay the coyotes for bringing his son across the border, but instead brought two guns. Juarez secretly handed one gun to Vasquez, and kept the other, Yellin said.

Camacho, the passenger in the SUV that was used to transport several illegal immigrants, was shot in the chest and died at the scene. Garcia, the driver, was shot in the abdomen but survived. The shooters fled.

Yellin contended that cell phone records and ballistics tests linked Juarez to the crime scene, and that Vasquez confessed when he was questioned by Oregon police years later after he was arrested there in a separate incident.

Juarez was arrested in September 2009 on the day he was due to be released from a federal prison in Kern County after serving a sentence on unrelated charges. He was going to be deported upon his release.

Vasquez was arrested the same day while in custody in Oregon on an unrelated driving under the influence charge.

Contact the writer: lwelborn@ocregister.com or 714-834-3784

http://www.ocregister.com/news/juarez-3 ... santa.html

Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Immigrant Smuggler

Manuel Hernandez Juarez Gets 50 Years to Life for Murder of a "Coyote" in Santa Ana 12 years ago.

By City News Service
8:00 AM

A 61-year-old man was sentenced this week to 50 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of an immigrant smuggler and the wounding of another in Santa Ana nearly 12 years ago.

Manuel Hernandez Juarez was convicted in June of last year of first- degree murder, with a sentencing enhancement for shooting a gun, and attempted murder.

Juarez's son and co-defendant, Huber Juarez Vasquez, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in March. Vasquez was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for using a gun.

Orange County Superior Court Judge W. Michael Hayes sentenced Juarez after rejecting his motion for a new trial.

Juarez's attorney, Rob Harley, argued that his client did not receive a fair trial because of ineffective assistance from his previous lawyer, Orange County Public Defender Lawrence Volk, and because there was a delay in filing charges as prosecutors sought three other potential witnesses who were smuggled into the country with the victims, Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin said.

"Lawrence did a great job (defending Juarez), so that was a no- brainer'' to oppose, Yellin said.

"In terms of the due process (violation), there really wasn't any,'' the prosecutor said. ``The evidence that was missing because of the delay -- that evidence would mostly have helped me, so it didn't prejudice the defense.''

Yellin said Juarez got the "appropriate'' punishment. "I know people don't like smugglers, but we shouldn't allow them to be shot in the street,'' he said.

Juarez arranged for two immigrant smugglers -- also called coyotes -- to bring his son to the United States for about $1,500, Yellin said.

Juarez was supposed to give the smugglers the cash at a Burger King at 1241 W. 17th St., on April 6, 2000, Yellin said.

Instead of paying the smugglers, Juarez showed up for the meeting with two guns, one of which he handed to Vasquez, and they shot their way out of the situation, Yellin said.

Victor Camacho was killed but Jose Luz Garcia, who was shot in the stomach, survived.

Juarez disappeared soon after the shootings. He was arrested in 2009 after Oregon police found him in a drug-dazed state, wandering through a field and worrying aloud that immigrant smugglers known as "coyotes'' were after him because of a shooting in Santa Ana, Yellin said.

Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Immigrant Smuggler - Baldwin Park, CA Patch