Mexican Man Sentenced In Human Smuggling Operation

Updated: Wednesday, 11 May 2011, 5:59 PM MDT
Published : Wednesday, 11 May 2011, 5:40 PM MDT

PHOENIX - A Mexican man has been given an 11-year federal prison term in Arizona for his role in a human smuggling operation.

Federal prosecutors say 22-year-old Abraham Flores-Angeles was sentenced Monday. He was convicted in January on charges of hostage taking, harboring illegal immigrants and possessing a firearm during a violent crime.

Authorities say Flores-Angeles was part of a violent group that held at least 40 illegal immigrants hostage at a Phoenix drop house in April 2010.

They say all of the hostages were threatened with death and at least one hostage was tied with duct tape, kicked and beaten.

Six hostages escaped by jumping out a bedroom window and notified authorities. That led to the arrest of Flores-Angeles and three others. Two co-defendants were sentenced to prison in February.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/im ... -operation