Texas Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Leading Human Smuggling Operation

A Texas man charged with a near-decade prison term for his role in a large-scale human smuggling operation. Miguel Angel Hernandez, 25, from Donna, was sentenced to 108 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport over 560 undocumented aliens into the United States, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported according to a press release published on December 21.

Hernandez's history also surfaced at the sentencing with U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos referencing a prior conviction of robbery. The 25-year-old had previously terrorized a family, holding a couple and their young daughter at gunpoint during a fireworks stand heist. Judge Ramos made it clear that as part of the conspiracy, he was responsible for the foreseeable actions of the others and he would be held accountable for that.

The investigation, which spanned almost two years, kicked off in July 2021 when authorities found 67 individuals crammed in the back of a sweltering trailer. The probe unveiled a complex network, steering through social media to recruit drivers for sneaking people past Border Patrol checkpoints and leading to revelations of countless smuggling attempts by the group.

In a particular event on September 11, 2022, law enforcement officers stumbled upon 115 undocumented aliens trapped in a tractor-trailer. Mark Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, stated, “This individual oversaw a transnational criminal organization responsible for illegally smuggling thousands of noncitizens into the U.S. in the back of tractor trailers through the deadly Texas heat with no regard for their health and safety,”, according to the same press release.

The lengthy investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with aid from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña took on the prosecution. As for Hernandez, he remains in custody and awaits transfer to a federal prison where he will begin serving his 108-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.