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Two Charged in Human Smuggling Scheme
Posted: Aug 2, 2012 9:15 PM
Updated: Aug 3, 2012 3:50 AM
McALLEN - Federal prosecutors have filed charges against two men in connection with the raid of a stash house Wednesday in north of Edinburg.
Agents found 23 illegal immigrants at a home on the 7700 block of Doolitle Road. Officials said the living conditions at the stash house were inhumane.
Officials said Jimmy Geovanni de Leon Gonzalez, 31, of Guatemala, and Edwin Daniel Cruz Ortiz, 18, of Mexico, were charged with immigrant smuggling.
Court records show that agents launched an investigation on July 22 into the alleged human smuggling operation. Border Patrol agents questioned two people they took into custody and were tipped off to a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was being used in the smuggling operation.
According to court records, agents set up surveillance and found the vehicle. They got consent to search the house and found the immigrants inside.
Records show Cruz said he got paid $15 per person to feed the immigrants and clean the house.
