Two Mexican nationals have been found guilty of their roles in the deadliest human smuggling event in U.S. history.
Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega are facing potential life sentences and will be sentenced on June 27, which marks the three-year anniversary of the tragic incident where 53 migrants lost their lives, as reported by FOX 29.
These two individuals were accused in connection with a devastating event in 2022 when 53 individuals perished inside a hot tractor-trailer lacking air conditioning in San Antonio. A total of 67 undocumented immigrants, including minors, were discovered confined in the trailer after being smuggled into the country and left on the roadside.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega were swiftly convicted by a federal court jury in San Antonio, determining their involvement in a human smuggling scheme that led to fatalities and injuries. The trial, spanning two weeks, culminated in a guilty verdict after the jurors deliberated for about an hour.
Police and other first responders work the scene where officials say dozens of people have been found dead and multiple others were taken to hospitals with heat-related illnesses after a semitrailer containing suspected migrants was found on Monday, June 27, 2022 in San Antonio. (Eric Gay, File)
Orduna-Torres was described as one of the leaders of the smuggling operation and Gonzales-Ortega as the coordinator.
A jury found both guilty of all charges: conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy; transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death; and transportation of illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
Police block the scene where a semitrailer with multiple dead bodies was discovered on Monday, June 27, 2022 in San Antonio. (Eric Gay, File)
Five men previously pleaded guilty to felony charges in the smuggling case, including the truck driver Homero Zamorano Jr., who was found hiding near the trailer in some bushes. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Also pleading guilty are Christian Martinez, Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, Riley Covarrubias-Ponce and Juan Francisco D’Luna Bilbao. All five will be sentenced later this year. Another person charged in the U.S. remains a fugitive, Leachman said. Several others have been charged in Mexico and Guatemala.
“This case exemplifies why we all must pay attention. Human smuggling is dehumanizing. It’s dangerous and it can be deadly. Smuggling victims are often subject to rape, kidnapping, extortion, exploitation and more. It will not stand. Our resolve in tackling these crimes will not waver,” Matthew Gagliotti, Acting Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said, according to FOX 29.
FOX News Digital’s Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Â
