HOUSTON, Texas — The last of six stowaways for two Salvadoran immigrants bludgeoned to death in a Houston warehouse in 2006 pleaded guilty last week. The two stowaways face life in prison following a sentencing hearing scheduled for next year.
Efrain Rodríguez-Mendoza, a Mexican national, and Wilmer Rene Duran-Gomez, a Salvadoran national, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to charges that they fatally beat two migrants who had not paid their smuggling fees. After the migrant's death, Rodriguez Mendoza, Duran Gomez and Jose Bolanos Garza wrapped the body in a blanket and disposed of it, Fox 26 Houston reported. reported.
The smugglers doused the bodies with gasoline and took them to a field in Fort Bend County, where they attempted to set the deceased on fire. After the incineration failed, the smugglers abandoned the truck and fled the scene.
According to Fox 26:
Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston, where his co-conspirators would store illegal aliens until they could pay the smuggling fee or arrange transportation.
While detained there, the smugglers were divided into two groups: paid and unpaid. People in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape from the warehouse. They were not given food or water, or even allowed to use the toilet. Some were naked and had their hands tied.
The conspirators called their families and demanded payment for the smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being assaulted and would be killed if the fee was not paid.
“These defendants violated the trust of their victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe location in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. . “Instead, they brutalized and bludgeoned them to death, all because they could not afford to be released. These violent criminals could no longer prey on the victims and their families. It will be gone.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz added: This is the most reprehensible and despicable criminal act I have ever encountered. ”
Sentencing hearings for both men are scheduled for March 2025.
bob price He is an associate editor and senior news contributor on the Breitbart Texas Border Team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston what is your point? sunday morning talk show. he is also the president blue wonder cancer care products.
