Valley woman who smuggled kids into U.S. gets 18 mo.

More Phoenix Local News

09:34 AM Mountain Standard Time on Friday, October 10, 2008

AZ District Attorney's Office / azfamily.com

The following news release was sent by the Arizona District Attorney’s Office:

PHOENIX - Olivia Amanda Quintero, 44, of Phoenix, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson. Quintero pleaded guilty on June 26, 2008, to conspiring to transport an illegal alien for profit.

On December 16, 2007, Quintero presented herself for admission into the United States at the port of entry in Nogales, Ariz. She was accompanied by two young boys, a seven year old and a six year old and claimed that both children were U.S. citizens. Further investigation revealed that the children were Mexican citizens and that Quintero was to receive $500 per child to smuggle the children into the U.S.

The smuggled children were turned over to the custody of the Mexican Consulate who then turned them over to the Mexican Department of Family Services (the Mexican equivalent of U.S. Child Protective Services) to be reunited with their family.

www.azfamily.com