A Laredo man has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentencing of 49-year-old Juan Manuel Aguirre, who pleaded guilty earlier this year.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The court took into account Aguirre’s history of smuggling and the danger posed by transporting individuals in a sealed trailer that required bolt cutters to open.
“Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life.”
The incident occurred on December 2, 2024, when law enforcement observed individuals being loaded into a trailer at a warehouse parking lot. Authorities stopped the truck driven by Aguirre and discovered 101 aliens inside, including 13 children as young as 13 years old.
Those found in the trailer reported having difficulty breathing due to the conditions inside. They originated from Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Honduras.
Aguirre will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The operation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
