In a recent unfolding in Florida, a Guatemalan citizen entered a guilty plea for his role in the illegal transport of undocumented migrants within the United States. Fredi Herrera-Sontay, 42, has been involved in shuttling individuals, seeking to further their unlawful residence in the country, between Atlanta, Georgia, and South Florida. Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney revealed the plea, which now subjects Herrera to the possibility of up to 10 years in prison, although a sentencing date is pending, according to a recent press release on the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Herrera's activities came to light following a tip to the U.S. Border Patrol about a grey truck with a Georgia license plate spotted on I-75. Border Patrol agents confirmed Herrera as the truck's owner and someone who was, himself, in the U.S. illegally. The stop that took place in the wee hours of January 29, laid bare the realities of Herrera's routine, as he and a passenger both hailing from Guatemala were found without proper documentation to legally reside in the United States.
The investigation into Herrera's vehicle usage revealed an astonishing mileage of 347,760 since its purchase, hinting at the extensive use in his alien transportation enterprise. Both individuals were taken into custody and during subsequent processing at the Jacksonville Border Patrol Station, it was discovered that Herrera had had multiple prior immigration encounters and had been previously deported on July 11, 2018. The passenger, however, had no such records, indicating a lack of previous encounters.
Herrera reportedly confessed during an interview that he was to receive $250 for delivering the passenger to Miami, and that he had been paid the same amount for each undocumented individual he transported. His lack of recollection on the number of times he had undertaken these illegal trips was summed up in his words, "he did not know, that he did not have a clue how many times." This case was diligently investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier is leading the prosecution effort, cited in the original announcement on the U.S. Attorney's Office.
