The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Lucio Carrillo-Genis, 34, and Alejandro Carrillo-Linares, 32, both of Martinsville, Indiana, were indicted on Thursday, August 18, 2022, by a federal grand jury on a charge of unlawfully attempting to transport individuals they knew to have entered the United States illegally. Carrillo-Genis and Carrillo-Linares were arraigned in United States District Court in Burlington this afternoon, where they both entered pleas of not guilty. They both remain detained pending further proceedings pursuant to a prior detention order issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment is an accusation only and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As currently charged, Carillo-Genis and Carrillo-Linares would each face up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their investigation and apprehension of Carrillo-Genis and Carrillo-Linares and their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human-smuggling organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher represents the United States in this case. Carrillo-Genis is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. Carrillo-Linares is represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq.