Thread: TX: Six Indicted in San Marcos Alien Smuggling Ring

Six Indicted in San Marcos Alien Smuggling Ring

Last Edited: Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008, 6:40 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008, 6:18 PM CDT


AUSTIN -- A federal grand jury in Austin returned an eight-count indictment Tuesday afternoon charging six people for their role in an illegal alien smuggling ring uncovered in July in San Marcos. The charges include conspiracy to smuggle, transport and harbor illegal aliens, hostage taking, forced labor and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. In July federal and local authorities discovered 25 illegal aliens from several Latin American countries being harbored in a San Marcos
home.

www.myfoxaustin.com

Federal charges filed in San Marcos immigrant smuggling case
Six accused of holding 26 immigrants hostage in an unairconditioned mobile home could face up to life in prison.
By Andrea Lorenz

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Thursday, August 07, 2008

SAN MARCOS — Four people who were arrested last month on state kidnapping charges in what police are calling an immigrant smuggling ring were indicted Wednesday along with two additional people on federal charges.

All could face life in prison if convicted.

Alejandro Guzman Ortega, 28; Julio Salgado-Ortega, 26; Rosalinda Alvarez Trevino, 32; Maria Garcia Luz, 25; Argeo Salgado-Ortega and Saul Romero-Ortega were charged with conspiracy to smuggle, transport and harbor illegal aliens; hostage-taking; forced labor; and conspiracy to use or possess a firearm during a crime of violence.

The six are accused of holding 26 Mexican and Latin American immigrants for ransom in a mobile home near San Marcos in Hays County. Alvarez Trevino, Garcia Luz, Julio Salgado-Ortega and Guzman Ortega were arrested July 16 and charged with kidnapping.

Neighbors of the mobile home where the immigrants were found and managers from the San Marcos Regency Mobile Home Park said that in hindsight, there were signs that something was wrong. It was ultimately calls to police from family members of those being held that led to the discovery.

Police officials said family members had reported that their relatives were being threatened and held hostage by smugglers who were demanding about $2,000 for their release. Officers found 18 men clothed only in their underwear and eight women wearing T-shirts and shorts in a mobile home that was not air-conditioned.

Police wouldn't say where the people are being detained.

Park manager Steve Maffett said news of the arrests shocked him, the owners of the mobile home where the immigrants were found and the owners of the mobile park.

"Oh, my God, you know. I have children in here," Maffett said recently. "I have 120 children (living in the park). I feel really responsible."

Just hours before the sting operation last month, a maintenance worker checked the water meter on the side of the home where the 26 people were hidden, Maffett said.

The worker thought there could be a water leak in the home because water usage had spiked in the past month to 9,000 gallons, double what should have been used by the four people approved to live there. The maintenance worker didn't hear anything out of the ordinary or notice anything that would indicate a couple of dozen people were inside, though, Maffett said.

Maffett said Alvarez Trevino and Garcia Luz had rented the home at 518 Iris St. Julio Salgado-Ortega and Guzman Ortega were identified as the women's husbands and were also approved to live there, he said. Park management has to approve tenants, Maffett said, and no criminal record or prior rental histories came up on record searches for the two women.

Maffett said mobile park residents are vigilant about watching out for crime.

Resident Dora Rodriguez said that she found it strange that bags of soda and beer cans had piled up in the past month outside the home but was shocked to find out 26 people were in there.

Colorado-based company Regency of Texas, which owns the mobile home park, has asked Maffett to do more extensive background checks on tenants, he said. George Gradow, who state documents name as the company's president, did not return calls seeking comment.

www.statesman.com