Immigrant Smuggler Sentenced
A Mexican man was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison for smuggling illegal immigrants across the southern Arizona desert, where 14 of them died in the extreme heat.
Jesus Lopez-Ramos pleaded guilty in October to 25 smuggling counts--14 for the men who died and 11 for men who survived the trek in temperatures reaching 115 degrees.
Lopez-Ramos, 21, expressed remorse before U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton imposed the sentence.
“I am very sorry for the fate of the victims and the families,” he said. “My intention was not to lead them to their deaths. My intention was to lead them across so they could find better lives. I ask for forgiveness.”
Defense attorney Gerald A. Williams said he planned to appeal the sentence.
Border Patrol agents found the immigrants May 23 on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in the bleak terrain known as the Devil’s Path.
Authorities say Lopez-Ramos of Guadalajara was one of three smugglers who led a group of about 30 illegal immigrants from Sonoyta, Mexico, into the United States on May 19.
One smuggler returned to Mexico and the other died.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
