Roma woman to pay cops' medical bills after smuggling immigrants

June 08, 2011 2:57 PM



Jared Taylor

The Monitor


McALLEN — A Roma woman pleaded guilty to an illegal immigrant smuggling ring and will pay nearly $6,000 in medical expenses for two police officers injured while she tried to flee authorities.

Elvia Elvira Uriegas, 27, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez to conspiring to transport illegal aliens.

Officers caught Uriegas after a chase as she tried to move six illegal immigrants near Sullivan City on April 2.

Sullivan City police followed Uriegas as she drove erratically on dirt roads, nearly flipping over the Durango before she crashed into a police unit. Two officers and three immigrants received medical treatment at an area hospital.

Uriegas and two passengers tried to run from the crash scene, but a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter spotted them as they hid in the brush.

Uriegas admitted Tuesday she'd been hired to transport the immigrants and would pay $5,917 in medical expenses for the two injured police officers.

Sentencing for Uriegas is set for August 15. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/roma ... gling.html