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Accused immigrant smuggler indicted
By The Denver Post Staff
Article Last Updated: 01/08/2007 11:19:12 PM MST

DENVER - A man accused of driving a van packed with smuggled illegal immigrants that crashed Nov. 28 on Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs, killing four of 14 passengers, has been indicted on federal charges of transporting aliens resulting in death and with unlawful re-entry of a previously deported alien, authorities said.

Jose Franco-Rodriguez, 23, also faces numerous state charges of human smuggling and other offenses that could result in 236 years in prison if he is convicted.

A federal grand jury handed up indictments in the case Monday, said Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Denver. The transporting-resulting-in-death charge carries a possible life sentence.