Thread: Man gets 30 years for immigrants' deaths

AP Texas News



April 15, 2008, 12:01PM
Man gets 30 years for immigrants' deaths


© 2008 The Associated Press

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LAREDO, Texas — An immigrant smuggler who was leading authorities on a high-speed chase when his SUV slammed into a steel post in a wreck that killed five passengers was sentenced to 30 years in prison, officials said Tuesday.

There is no possibility of parole for Fernando Lemus-Gonzalez, 33, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.

In February 2007 Border Patrol agents tried to stop Lemus-Gonzalez on suspicion of smuggling illegal immigrants. He led authorities on a chase through Hebbronville before losing control of the SUV and hitting the post.

Five of the nine illegal immigrants he was transporting died. The victims were from Albania, Macedonia and Mexico, and were paying Lemus-Gonzalez, himself an illegal immigrant from Mexico, to take them to Houston.

"Human smuggling's most inherent risk is not that of federal prison but rather death itself," U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said in a statement. "Make no mistake, incarceration awaits the perpetrators, but accidental death is an all-too frequent cost of this type of criminal activity."

Most of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and an investigation found that Lemus-Gonzalez had been drinking before and after picking up the passengers near the border.

Lemus-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to eight counts of an indictment in September. State charges are pending against him.

"Our position is that although we respect the court's decision, we respectfully disagree with the assessment of how they scored out the case which eventually led to the punishment," said Homero G. Martinez, Lemus-Gonzalez' attorney, adding that his client "is looking at his options of appealing the decision on the sentencing."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5702203.html

30 years in prison? The bill to the taxpayers will be at least $2 million.