EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A woman accused of picking up 10 migrants near Mount Cristo Rey and transporting them in the cargo area of a white SUV has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges.
Geraldine Peña Simental on Monday admitted to knowingly conspire to transport the migrants from Sunland Park, New Mexico, to a stash house in El Paso when the Border Patrol stopped her last December.
Border agents responding to a sensor activation at the base of the mountain spotted several individuals who had entered the U.S. illegally run toward the white Buick Enclave. They got in and the SUV proceeded towards McNutt Road, which ends at the Texas state line.
Court records show Border Patrol vehicles intercepted the vehicle at a stop sign and agents asked Peña who were the individuals who got into her SUV. She responded she did not know. When she allowed agents to open the cargo area of the Enclave, the agents saw 10 individuals tightly packed on top of each other.
The passengers turned out to be eight citizens of Mexico and two citizens of Honduras illegally present in the United States. Court documents allege Peña later told agents she knew she was picking up unauthorized migrants and that she would get paid for it by smugglers.
Court documents show Peña pleaded guilty on Monday in exchange for a lesser sentence upon conviction. The documents don’t specify how much time Peña will serve. The maximum penalty for transporting illegal aliens is 10 years in prison.
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