A fourth individual has entered a guilty plea to involvement with the group that in 2022 was in charge of transporting migrants into Texas via a tractor trailer.
What Happened?
According to court documents, Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, also known as Cowboy, 38, was a part of the human smuggling ring that carried out the abortive smuggling attempt on June 27, 2022. Children and adults were brought into the United States illegally from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
In San Antonio, the tractor trailer included at least 66 migrants. Six children and 47 adults perished in all. That day, officials declared that all injuries were heat-related and that sufferers were “hot to the touch.” Heat exhaustion and heat stroke were the causes of death for those who perished. The trailer had no air conditioning or water.
Sentenced For 20 Years
Photo: cnn
According to court records, Rivera-Leal would come across tractor trailers used to bring migrants to San Antonio. After that, he would drive his own car to transport smaller groups of migrants to Houston.
He might spend up to 20 years behind bars. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, there are three additional co-defendants whose cases are currently pending.
