http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/166148



Published: 01.25.2007

Mexican gets life sentence; held illegals for ransom
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — A man characterized as a leader of a vicious immigrant-smuggling ring that physically abused its clientele to assure ransoms has been sentenced to life in prison.
Jesus Medina-Nevarez, 25, of Mazatlan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, was sentenced Tuesday to life plus seven years by U.S. District Judge Roger G. Strand.
A federal jury convicted Medina-Nevarez in October of conspiracy to take hostages, hostage-taking, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens and possessing and using a firearm during a violent crime.
He'll serve the federal sentence at the same time as others for state convictions of 14 years for attempted sexual assault and 10 1/2 years for a drive-by shooting.
Prosecutors said Medina-Nevarez and seven others who also were convicted held at least 56 people hostage in January 2003 at a Phoenix drop house, where illegal immigrants typically are hidden while payment and travel arrangements are concluded.
Medina-Nevarez burned the face of one victim with a cigarette, prosecutors said.
Evidence showed that the victims were held at gunpoint, beaten, pistol-whipped, kicked and threatened with death, some with plastic bags held over their heads.
At sentencing, Strand said Medina-Nevarez showed a leadership role and termed his behavior "mean-spirited and brutal to an unusual high degree."


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