Phoenix human smuggler sentenced to 42 years in prison

Last Update: 9/17 8:27 pm

Reported by:
Jessica Hickman

A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 42 years in the prison on Wednesday for holding more than 20 undocumented immigrants at gunpoint in Phoenix, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

Victims said Ricardo Moreno held them against their will on October 11, 2007 at a drop house in south Phoenix after he had helped to smuggle them from Mexico to Arizona.

Moreno was convicted on 13 counts including kidnapping, theft by extortion, and human smuggling, authorities said.

Officials also said two-codefendants were sentenced to seven years in prison after they pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

Judge Cari Harrison presided over the case.

“We will continue to seek hard time as law enforcement continues to make these arrests,â€