Thread: AZ:Human Smuggler Gets 7 Years for Fatal Accident

Mr. Morquecho-Valdez gets to go to federal prison, reputed to be more like a vacation than punishment, in payment for these two violent deaths.

Human smuggler gets 7 years for fatal accident
December 5th, 2008 @ 3:57pm
by Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. - A Mexican man who was driving a pickup packed with illegal immigrants when it rolled in southern Arizona earlier this year and killed two passengers has been sentenced to 7 years in federal prison.

The U.S. attorney's office says Francisco Javier Morquecho-Valdez pleaded guilty to transporting an illegal alien for commercial or financial gain resulting in death. He faced up to life in prison, but the 20-year-old received the 7-year sentence on Thursday.

Morquecho-Valdez had picked up the load of illegal immigrants near Naco in southern Arizona on April 13 and was headed north near Sierra Vista when the vehicle rolled over, ejecting many of the occupants. Two died at the scene and four others were critically hurt.

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=9467292

I read this yesterday and couldn't believe that the sentence was only for 7 years despite all the criminal activity involved.

Human smuggling
14 people in the vehicle
Being a Mexican National
Killing 2 of the "cargo" by driving erratically

and all he gets is 7 years...