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Mexican gets 20 months for immigrant smuggling by soldiers

Posted at 8:58 AM, Nov 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-29 09:58:39-05

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) – A Mexican man living in the U.S. illegally must serve 20 months in prison for arranging immigrants to be smuggled by Fort Hood soldiers through a Texas border checkpoint.

Victoriano Zamora-Jasso was sentenced Wednesday in Brownsville. The 54-year-old Zamora-Jasso in January pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor immigrants and illegal re-entry after deportation.

Investigators say four soldiers from the Central Texas post in 2014 showed Army identification and hid immigrants under military gear to get through the Sarita checkpoint.

Records show Zamora-Jasso was deported in 2013, but returned to Texas. He was indicted in 2016 and arrested last year near Houston.

The soldiers were convicted of immigrant smuggling-related counts, with sentences ranging from probation to 20 months in prison. Another civilian was sentenced to six years in prison.

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