A Cuban man has been convicted by a federal jury for his role in a human smuggling operation. The 49-year-old Deivis Reinaldo Rodriguez-Ramirez was found guilty of conspiring to transport non-U.S. citizens unlawfully, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a trial that lasted just two days, the jury took less than an hour to reach a verdict after hearing the case against Rodriguez-Ramirez. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that he was part of a trio involved in a scheme to conceal undocumented individuals inside a tractor-trailer. The incident in question took place on Aug. 21, 2023, when Daikiel Perdomo-Castro drove said vehicle to a Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias, seemingly without passengers.
However, following a request for an X-ray inspection, law enforcement officials discovered Rodriguez-Ramirez, eight undocumented individuals, and a third co-conspirator, Macdiel Labrada-Martin, all hiding in the sleeper compartment of the tractor. Both Perdomo-Castro and Labrada-Martin, hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, had previously admitted guilt and received sentences of 15 and nine months, respectively.
The defense tried to distance Rodriguez-Ramirez from the smuggling operation, arguing that despite his presence in the vehicle alongside the others, he had no part in the criminal offense. However, the jury was unconvinced by these claims, resulting in his conviction. Rodriguez-Ramirez, who was permitted to remain on bond, now faces up to a decade in federal prison as well as a possible fine of $250,000, with sentencing scheduled for Dec. 4 under U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales-Ramos, as mentioned by the same press release.
Investigations were carried out by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Young Burkett and Ashley Martin.
