3 convicted of smuggling girls as prostitutes

ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 16, 2011, 7:20PM

MCALLEN — Three men have been convicted of smuggling illegal immigrant girls to work as prostitutes in South Texas.

A Justice Department statement says a federal jury in McAllen deliberated about two hours late Wednesday before finding the three guilty.

Prosecutors accused the three of importing underage girls as young as 13 to the border city of Rio Grande City to work as prostitutes.

Juan Antonio Garcia-Garay, of Rio Grande City, is convicted of importing immigrants for prostitution, harboring illegal immigrants and conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants.

Antonio Martinez Jr., of Rio Grande City, and Mexico resident Juan Ignacio Chavarria-Ontiveros are convicted of harboring illegal immigrants and conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants.

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