Laredo Resident Sentenced In Alien Smuggling Case

LAREDO, Texas – Jorge Castenada, 38, of Laredo, has been sentenced to total of 63 months following his conviction of alien smuggling, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Jorge Castenada pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2012.

Following a four-hour sentencing hearing today, visiting U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed Castenada a sentence of 51 months for the alien smuggling offense and another 12 months for violating terms of supervised release, to be served consecutively, for a total of 63 months.

In May 2012, Castenada agreed to transport an undocuented Guatemalan female alien from McAllen to Houston via Laredo for $1500. Castenada, who already has an extensive criminal history, then took the lone female alien to a deserted house where he sexually assaulted her and threatened her to keep quiet. Later in the day, he was stopped by Border Patrol for an immigration inspection and was arrested for alien smuggling when it was revealed he was transporting an alien in violation of federal law.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonah Lee.