The Justice Department said the men were Guatemalan citizens living in Texas.
At sentencing, he will face a maximum legal sentence of life in prison, the Justice Department said.
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In early May 2021, the setting of a young Guatemalan indigenous woman found herself in a remote domain just outside Odessa, Texas. Three months later, Gael-Galicia and Tercero-González were arrested on August 23, 2021, at or near 910 Coyochic Avenue – the place of the caravan where the victim was taken and died.
Inside the caravan were other migrants who entered the country illegally, detailed records and more than a hundred cell phones, according to federal prosecutors.
“According to their guilty plea, the defendants admitted that they operated a prolific alien trafficking organization and were there to transport the deceased migrant,” the Justice Department said.
The investigation is related to the recent arrests and indictments of four other people in Guatemala.
In August, the Guatemalan government arrested Felipe Diego Alonzo, known as Siete, 38; Nesly Norberto Martinez Gomez, alias Canche, 37; Lopez Mateo Mateo, known as Bud Light, 42; and Juan Gutierrez Castro, known as Andres, 45; following extradition requests across the United States, according to the Justice Department.
The 4 allegedly conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the adventure of large numbers of migrants from Guatemala, Mexico, and ultimately the United States, charging the migrants and their families between $10,000 and $12,000 for the dangerous adventure.
In addition to the prolific smuggling of migrants into the United States, alleged smugglers targeted by the August 2022 operation are believed to be guilty of the death of the same indigenous Guatemalan woman transported through Gael-Galicia and Tercero-González.
This investigation was coordinated through Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was created through Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Department of Justice’s “overall efforts to fight crimes based on the accumulation of prolific and harmful contraband emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. “
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“Through extensive coordination with our U. S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners, yesterday’s guilty pleas underscore JTFA’s overall project to spare no effort in its efforts to hold accountable all those who treat human life as a commodity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth. A. Polite. , Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said on a Friday.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital and covers politics, crime, police and more. The story can be sent to danielle. wallace@fox. com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.