3 get prison for holding immigrants

Officials: captives could be deported

Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2011 08:06:41 PM PDT
Updated: 07/06/2011 08:24:46 PM PDT


RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Three Mexican citizens were sentenced to three years in state prison after pleading no contest to charges that they held three illegal immigrants captive for ransom.
The men were sentenced by Judge Raymond P. Van Stockum on June 30 in West Valley Superior Court after pleading no contest to false imprisonment.

Jose DeJesus Horta Gutterrez, 34, Leonardo Rios Sanchez, 24, and Alvaro Barajas, 38, were arrested June 17 after San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies found them with the captives at a home in Rancho Cucamonga.

Deputies went to the home after receiving a phone call from one of the captives. The captives, all Mexican citizens who were smuggled across the border, were being held by the defendants in lieu of $1,000, according to authorities.

Two other immigrants were in the home when deputies arrived in the 13000 block of Arrow Route, though they were not being held by the defendants for further payment, authorities said.

The five immigrants were taken into custody at the time of the defendants' arrest, and may be deported, authorities said.

Before they were smuggled into the United States, each immigrant paid between $2,000 and $3,000 for assistance crossing the border, authorities said.


http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18423756