NBCSanDiego.com
Pair Accused Of Human Smuggling

POSTED: 5:08 pm PDT July 9, 2007
UPDATED: 5:48 pm PDT July 9, 2007

SAN DIEGO -- Two people accused of running what some describe as the worst case of human smuggling in San Diego are facing charges.


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Images: Pair Accused Of Human Smuggling
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Gloria León Aldana and Mario Antunez Sotelo allegedly forced people to live and work in deplorable conditions. According to investigators, the pair were leaders of a well-organized ring.

Authorities said that after smuggling the illegal immigrants from Mexico into the U.S. with the help of two smugglers, León Aldana and Antunez Sotelo would force them to live in two San Diego houses and work long hours. Officials said León Aldana and Antunez Sotelo would then keep the worker's paychecks.

According to officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, this is a rare case in San Diego County and it took the collaboration of many agencies to break the case.

"The closer we're working with the community organizations, the Mexican Consulate, the local police departments, we're starting to get more information, and we're getting alerted to situations that we weren't aware of before," said ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack. "That's because, a lot of times, situations like this one are first found out about by local police or community groups or religious groups."

Three of four defendants charged in connection the case pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of conspiracy to bring and harbor undocumented immigrants for financial gain. Antunez Sotelo is still being sought in connection to the case.

They will be back in court on Aug. 23.
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