Foot Guide Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Bringing In Illegal Aliens for Profit

     TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Jose Pastrano-Rios, 53, of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 60 months in prison with three years of supervised release to follow. Pastrano-Rios had previously pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in illegal aliens for profit.   

     Pastrano-Rios was arrested on May 19, 2017, for guiding a group of nine illegal immigrants, including two unaccompanied minors, into the United States. Agents were able to determine that Pastrano-Rios was known as “El Bigotes” and was a known human smuggler.  He was previously identified as a foot guide for groups of illegal immigrants who were smuggled into the United States on three occasions in 2016.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Border Patrol, the United States Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Rui Wang and Frances Kreamer Hope, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-0926-RCC          

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-038_ Pastrano-Rios

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