Three plead guilty in immigration case
Associated Press
July 15, 2009, 11:58AM

Five relatives from Mexico face prison and possible deportation for smuggling illegal immigrants in Texas.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston says three men on Wednesday pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor and transport illegal immigrants for financial gain.

A 911 caller on March 15 reported his father was being held against his will at a house in Houston, after initially being smuggled from Mexico to San Antonio.

Deputies located 22 illegal immigrants, three firearms and the five defendants.

Prosecutors say 32-year-old Anselmo Gonzalez-Mendoza, 26-year-old Epifanio Gonzalez-Mendoza and 20-year-old Leonel Gonzalez-Mendoza will be sentenced Oct. 16.

Two other relatives who earlier pleaded guilty, Agustin Gonzalez-Mendoza and Rogelio Gonzalez-Mendoza, will be sentenced later this summer.

The men could get up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fines.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 30353.html