A 37-year-old resident of Alamo, Texas, Margarito Llanes, has been sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for transporting illegal aliens. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei following Llanes’ guilty plea on April 22.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane imposed the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release after the prison term. During the hearing, evidence was presented about the risks posed by Llanes during a high-speed pursuit. His actions were consistent with past violent criminal conduct, including indecency with a child, robbery, and alien smuggling. Judge Crane highlighted the seriousness of Llanes’ actions and noted that it was fortunate there were no more severe consequences.
The incident occurred on January 18 when Llanes drove a group of illegal aliens near the Rio Grande River in Granjeno. Upon law enforcement’s approach, he attempted to flee at speeds exceeding 70 mph over unpaved roads for approximately 1.5 miles before crashing into a tree and injuring nearly all eight passengers.
Llanes admitted to driving during the incident and acknowledged his fortune in surviving the crash. He will remain in custody until his transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility is arranged.
The investigation was conducted by Border Patrol with support from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry handled prosecution duties.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
