A Rio Grande City man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in an illegal human smuggling operation. Jason Al Venecia, 42, was convicted of using his girlfriend and her minor daughter to help transport a Mexican national through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Venecia pleaded guilty on March 26 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. In addition to his prison term, he will also be subject to two years of supervised release. During the sentencing hearing, the court learned that Venecia's act not only involved deception but exploited the presence of a minor to further his chances of successfully bypassing border security.
On the day of the incident, Venecia approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint driving a Cadillac SRX, with two adult males in the front and the adult and minor females in the backseat. One of the men admitted to being in the United States illegally, and further investigation revealed a series of incriminating evidence on Venecia's cell phone, including "proof of life" videos from individuals that had recently crossed the Rio Grande River, as per the press release.
Text messages extracted from his phone showed that Venecia was to be paid $1,250 upon delivering the illegal aliens to their destination, a clear indication of his involvement in the smuggling operation. While out on bond awaiting his sentencing, he was again caught in the act – this time assisting his girlfriend in another smuggling attempt, which subsequently led to the revocation of his bond and an immediate custodial sentence.
As this case unfolds, Venecia's girlfriend has already pleaded guilty in her own separate but related case. The crackdown on such activities is part of the broader enforcement campaign known as Operation Take Back America, aimed at preventing illegal immigration and disbanding the cartels and criminal networks behind such offenses.
This case was brought to light by the efforts of Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Pruitt. Operation Take Back America continues to confront the issue of illegal immigration, aligning with the Department of Justice's focus on uprooting organized crime and ensuring the safety of American communities.
