Alamo man sentenced for smuggling immigrants

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An Alamo man has been ordered to federal prison for illegally transporting undocumented immigrants, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Margarito Llanes, 37, pleaded guilty on April 22.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has ordered Llanes to serve just over four years (52 months) in federal prison, immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

According to documents, on Jan. 18, a group of undocumented immigrants was loaded into a vehicle near the Rio Grande in Granjeno. Llanes was driving. As law enforcement approached, he sped away and engaged in a 1.5-mile pursuit with speeds reaching over 70 mph over unpaved roads.

The chase ended when he crashed the vehicle into a tree, seriously injuring nearly all eight passengers.

Llanes admitted to driving the vehicle, noting he was lucky he did not die.

In addition, the court also learned about Llanes's previous criminal history, consisting of indecency with a child, robbery, and smuggling of persons.

He will remain in custody pending a transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.