Two Brownsville residents have been sentenced for their involvement in a human smuggling operation, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Ofelia Christine Monares and Michael Rosa, both 35, pleaded guilty on April 1 to smuggling three illegal aliens in the trunk of a vehicle.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced Monares to 40 months in prison and Rosa to 25 months. Both will also serve one year of supervised release after completing their sentences.
The court imposed upward adjustments in their sentencing guidelines due to the danger posed to the lives of the smuggled individuals. Monares received an additional enhancement for her supervisory role in the criminal activity.
During their plea, Monares and Rosa admitted they knowingly transported three illegal aliens in the trunk of a Nissan Sentra. On February 24, law enforcement observed suspected illegal aliens entering the vehicle near the Rio Grande River before it sped away. Authorities stopped the car at Highway 4 checkpoint, discovering three Vietnamese nationals inside who appeared dehydrated.
Rosa was identified as the driver and stated that he was recruited by Victor Hugo Medrano-Medrano and Monares, who promised him $10,000 for transporting the aliens to a local convenience store in Brownsville.
Video surveillance showed a white Nissan Titan crossing a checkpoint shortly after Rosa’s arrest. Authorities later found this vehicle at the convenience store with Monares driving and Medrano as a passenger.
Monares admitted she would receive $500 for each alien transported.
Medrano-Medrano has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in September while remaining in custody.
Both Monares and Rosa are currently held pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuting. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts from various Department of Justice programs.
