Illegal immigrant given year in jail

Dec 1, 2010 8:04am

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal court in Knoxville has sentenced an illegal immigrant to nearly a year in prison for what the judge called a minor role in transporting other illegal immigrants.

Marco Polo Vega Hernandez was charged after a stolen van was stopped on Interstate 40 in Roane County in April. There were 18 illegal immigrants inside, including Hernandez.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports defense attorney Michael Coleman told the court his client closed his store in Mexico and slipped across the border after a crime cartel demanded protection money. Coleman said Hernandez worked as a landscaper in California and accepted an offer to help drive the van to reduce what he paid to travel in it to New York.

He said Hernandez didn't know the van was stolen or that a juvenile was aboard.

www.necn.com