McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A woman from North Texas has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to smuggle two children from Mexico into Laredo, Texas, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Genjei said Thursday.
Sandra Perez, 36, of Fort Worth, pleaded guilty on Nov. 19 to trying to drive two Mexican children along with her own three children, who are U.S. citizens, in an SUV from Mexico on Aug. 8.
Officials say Perez falsely claimed the Mexican children were her children and attempted to present fake Texas birth certificates and Social Security cards, Ganjei said.
“Smuggling children is absolutely reprehensible,” Ganjei said. “Who knows what awaited these children had the defendant managed to slip past authorities. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to unravel Perez’s false story and stop her smuggling scheme dead in its tracks.”
Border officers questioned the Mexican children and after they failed to answer, Perez admitted to attempting to smuggle them into the United States. She also told officials she would be paid $5,000 per child upon delivery.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña ordered Perez to serve three years in federal prison.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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