Naturalized United States citizen pleads guilty to smuggling aliens

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Hector Escobedo-Reyna, a naturalized United States citizen, has pleaded guilty in federal court to the offense of transporting illegal aliens for financial gain.

“Human smugglers carry out their illegal activities seeking financial gain with little regard for human life and no respect for our laws,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Additionally, they endanger not only the people they smuggle, but innocent motorists, when an over-loaded vehicle like the one he was driving either has an accident or causes one.”

“Identifying and stopping criminal networks that engage in cross-border human smuggling as well as individuals who seek to illegally enter the U.S. is a priority focus for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “These criminal organizations have no regard for the well-being of the people they attempt to smuggle, who are often put at great risk during an attempt to illegally enter the U.S., and HSI will continue to work collaboratively with our federal, state and local partners to investigate and prosecute such activity.”

“As an assisting agency, the Georgia State Patrol takes pride in being a part of any investigation in which criminals are removed from our roadways.  It is a reminder that what some may call a ‘routine’ traffic stop, often leads to more than a traffic citation,” said SFC Stephanie Stallings, Director of Public Information for the Georgia State Patrol.

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charge, and other information presented in court: on December 28, 2018, a Trooper from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) performed a routine traffic stop of a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia. The vehicle, driven by Hector Escobedo-Reyna, contained ten undocumented individuals, including a minor. Homeland Security Investigations special agents from the Atlanta Field Office responded to the scene to assist the GSP.

Investigators discovered that Escobedo-Reyna had transported the passengers to Atlanta after the group had crossed the United States border with Mexico and traveled through Houston, Texas. Escobedo-Reyna intended to transport and deliver his passengers to other cities along the east coast.

Hector Escobedo-Reyna, 62, of Houston, Texas, was indicted on February 6, 2019, for the offense of knowing, and recklessly disregarding the fact, that aliens had come to, entered, and remained in the United States in violation of law, and of transporting and moving the aliens within the United States by means of transportation and otherwise, for the purpose of financial gain. He pleaded guilty to this offense on May 9, 2019.

This case is being investigated by HSI-Atlanta and the Georgia State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Radics are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.