PHARR – A Pharr man is facing up to life in prison after being convicted of harboring people who crossed the border illegally and holding them hostage.

Two victims who testified against 32-year-old Jesus Manuel Ramirez said he beat them when their families didn’t pay their smuggling fees.

One of the victims managed to escape.

Three of Ramirez’s co-conspirators are already doing time for their roles in the crime.

Ramirez will be sentenced in July.