September 01, 2012 7:48 PM
Ildefonso Ortiz
The Monitor

McALLEN — A man from Tampico pleaded guilty to smuggling charges in a ploy to move undocumented immigrants using chartered planes.

Jorge Luis Gallegos pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor, conceal and shield illegal immigrants from detection during a Thursday morning hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa.

Hinojosa accepted the plea and set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 28. Gallegos faces up to 10 years in prison without parole and a fine of up to $250,000.

Gallegos was arrested on June 20 near McAllen-Miller International Airport after a group of illegal immigrants were found by U.S. Border Patrol agents as they were boarding a charter plane bound for San Antonio. That day Gallegos was seen dropping off the five immigrants at the airport.

He has been held without bond since his arrest and will remain behind bars until the sentencing hearing.

One Old Vet

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