In The News

Last man sentenced in deadly smuggling case

By Land Line
Posted Jun 9th 2010 4:39AM


The last of more than a dozen people charged in the deadliest smuggling operation in U.S. history has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Mexican resident Octavio Torres-Ortega was convicted of harboring and transporting illegal immigrants resulting in death and serious injury.

In May 2003, 19 illegal immigrants died after being left inside a tractor-trailer near Victoria, TX. Authorities say the temperature inside the trailer reached 173 degrees.

Truck driver Tyrone Williams, who abandoned the immigrants at a truck stop, was sentenced to life in prison.

Torres-Ortega was the last to come to trial because he fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. He was eventually extradited.

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