Leader of immigrant smuggling ring sentenced to 10 years

CLEVELAND A man convicted of spearheading a large illegal immigrant smuggling ring was sentenced to ten years in prison yesterday.
Manuel Valdez-Gomez a legal immigrant from Nogales, Arizona, apologized in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, but prosecutors say he could still be deported once he's released. He pleaded guilty to ten counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Authorities claimed Valdez-Gomez ran the ring, which charged about two-thousand dollars to shuttle illegal immigrants from Mexico to final destinations in seven states, including a safe house in Painesville.

Prosecutors say they began investigating the ring in 2004 after several illegal immigrants arrested in Painesville implicated Valdez-Gomez.

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