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11-15-2011, 03:27 PM #1
Rape testimony gets man longer smuggling sentence
Rape testimony gets man longer smuggling sentence
kiiitv.com
The Associated Press
Nov 15, 2011 1:12 PM EST
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - A woman's testimony that she was raped has led a federal judge to break from sentencing guidelines for a Mexican man given 10 years in federal prison for his role in an immigrant smuggling operation.
The U.S. attorney's office says U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen went beyond the maximum sentence of 37 months for Rogelio Serrano-Lara on Monday after a 29-year-old woman from El Salvador testified that Serrano-Lara raped her in a Brownsville stash house.
Serrano-Lara, a 21-year-old from Matamoros, Mexico, pleaded guilty in June to transporting an illegal immigrant within the U.S.
Illegal immigrants told investigators that Serrano-Lara robbed them of their money once they arrived at the stash house. The woman from El Salvador testified that she was raped after Serrano-Lara threatened to rape her 13-year-old daughter.
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11-15-2011, 03:30 PM #2
Man Sentenced in Smuggling Conspiracy Case
Man Sentenced in Smuggling Conspiracy Case
krgv.com
Last Update: 1:10 pm
BROWNSVILLE – A 21-year-old was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy.
Rogelio Serrano-Lara, a Matamoros resident, faced a maximum of 37 months in prison but was sentenced to 120 months. The court made an upward departure from sentencing guidelines, after hearing from witnesses. The judge noted the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect the public from future crimes.
One woman from El Salvador said Serrano-Lara raped her. The woman had traveled with her family to Reynosa by bus and then crossed the river the next day. Serrano-Lara led them to a residence on Sybil Street in Brownsville. That’s where the alleged assault happened.
Court records say when she refused to sleep with Serrano-Lara, the 21-year-old man threatened to rape the woman’s daughter instead. The woman explained she felt as though she had no choice and Serrano-Lara sexually assaulted her.
At one point during the family’s stay in Brownsville, the woman’s 21-year-old niece and 13-year-old daughter began to cry and Serrano-Lara threatened to kill them. He claimed he was with the Zetas.
Other witnesses said Serrano-Lara patted them down one by one when they got to the Brownsville home and stole their money.
Serrano-Lara pleaded guilty in June to transporting an alien within the United States.
Hector Josue Velasquez-Cruz of Honduras was another man convicted in the case. He pleaded guilty to harboring an illegal alien and was sentenced last month to 15 months in prison. The 29-year-old admitted he was the caretaker of the Brownsville home. He was told in exchange, he would get passage to Houston.
A third man also pleaded guilty for his role. Yered Esquivel-Medina, a 23-year-old from Michoacan, Mexico, was planning to serve as a guide for the illegal immigrants on their way to Houston. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15. All three men have been in custody since their arrest.
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