Mexican pleads guilty in Ariz. smuggling crash

The Associated Press
4:45 p.m. April 21, 2009

PHOENIX — A Mexican national accused of transporting illegal immigrants after a rollover crash killed 10 of 19 people inside the vehicle has pleaded guilty in a deal with federal prosecutors.

The U.S. attorney's office says Brian Guzman Ochoa (oh-CHOH'-uh) of Hermosillo, Mexico, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of transporting illegal aliens resulting in death.

Under a deal that must be approved by a judge, the government will not seek the death penalty against the 39-year-old.

Authorities say Guzman was driving a sports utility vehicle toward Phoenix on Aug. 7, 2008, when he veered off a highway, killing nine people at the scene and another who died later.

He faces 5 to 34 years in prison under federal guidelines when he's sentenced July 13.

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