Two men were sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a 2022 human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of 53 migrants. Felipe Orduna-Torres, 30, received a life sentence, while Armando Gonzales-Ortega, 55, was sentenced to 83 years and fined $250,000.
According to a press statement, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia imposed the penalties three years after the horrific occurrence . The men were convicted in March on charges relating to the transportation of migrants, which resulted in death and serious harm. Attorney General Pamela Bondi underscored the gravity of the crime, saying, “These criminals will spend the rest of their lives in prison because of their cruel choice to profit off of human suffering.”
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons emphasized the significance of the verdict, saying, “Three years to the day after these two smugglers and their co-conspirators left dozens of men, women, and children locked in a sweltering tractor-trailer to die in the Texas summer heat, they learned that they will spend the rest of their lives locked away in a federal prison.” He further stated that the case demonstrates the determination to prosecute smugglers and eliminate criminal groups.
Craig Larrabee, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio, acknowledged the comprehensive investigation that resulted in the penalties. “This case serves as a stark reminder: human smuggling is not a service—it is a deadly criminal enterprise,” Larrabee tweeted.
According to court filings, Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, and Gonzales-Ortega, popularly known as El Don, organized the smuggling of adults and children from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico into the United States from December 2021 to June 2022. According to the evidence given at trial, the business used shared resources to maximize profit while minimizing risk.