U.S. Attorney Secures 78-Month Sentence for Armed Felon in Immigrant Smuggling Scheme

ALBUQUERQUE – A Tularosa man was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while engaged in a scheme to transport undocumented immigrants.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on January 18, 2023, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent observed suspicious driving behavior from a vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 185 near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The vehicle was moving slower than the posted speed limit and drifting across lanes. After making evasive maneuvers, the vehicle eventually stopped near an abandoned residence outside Las Cruces.

The agent made contact with the driver, identified as Castulo Amaya, 39, and explained that he had stopped to conduct a welfare check. During the interaction, Amaya exhibited increasingly erratic behavior, yelling at the vehicle occupants to record the encounter and claiming harassment.

When questioned, Amaya claimed that the vehicle's occupants were his children and relatives. However, upon inspection, the agent determined that six individuals in the rear seat were aliens illegally present in the United States. All provided rehearsed responses claiming they were from Las Cruces. The front seat passenger was identified as Vanessa Rodriguez-Solorio, a U.S. citizen. Rodriguez-Solorio admitted to being hired by Amaya to transport people for money and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

During a search incident to arrest, a loaded semi-automatic pistol was found concealed under Amaya's sweatshirt. As a previously convicted felon, Amaya knew that he was prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Amaya will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Anthony “Scott” Good, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, made the announcement today.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case.

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