ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juan Manuel Rivera-Aguilar, 36, of Hixson, Tennessee, entered a guilty plea for his involvement in a conspiracy to transport aliens for financial benefits.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
On April 1, Rivera-Aguilar, alongside German Ojeda-Solano, journeyed to the U.S. side of the Canada-U.S. border in Mooers, New York, with the intent to pick up three individuals who had unlawfully entered the country on foot. Upon noticing U.S. Border Patrol agents conducting a search in the vicinity, Ojeda-Solano swiftly reversed their vehicle to head south. The agents subsequently detained and arrested both Rivera-Aguilar and Ojeda-Solano. Rivera-Aguilar confessed to expecting payment for his role in ferrying the three individuals to an undisclosed location within the U.S.
Previously, on September 18, Ojeda-Solano pleaded guilty to the same charges and received a sentence of 6 months in prison from Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.
Rivera-Aguilar is set to be sentenced on February 2, before Chief Judge Sannes. He could potentially serve up to a decade in prison, be subjected to a fine as high as $250,000, and undergo up to three years of supervised release. The sentence given will be determined by the judge, taking into consideration the specific statute violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other relevant factors.
The case was thoroughly investigated by the Border Patrol. The prosecution is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.