St. Louis - Rene Flores-Calderon, 35, of Mexico, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for transportation of undocumented aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law and to his illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.

According to court documents, on August 2, 2018, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman stopped a maroon Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Interstate 44, just east of the Franklin County line, in St. Louis County, Missouri. The suburban contained 10 undocumented adult aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador and three undocumented unaccompanied minor children. During the vehicle stop, Flores-Calderon fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the next day.

All of the passengers admitted they had illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona over the last month and were traveling to various destinations across the United States.

Flores-Calderon knew the passengers were undocumented aliens in the United States in violation of the law and that he transported the passengers within the United States with the intent to further the aliens’ unlawful presence.

Interviews were conducted of the passengers in the vehicle. In summary, they stated that they had crossed at various points into the United States illegally. Flores-Calderon picked them up at various locations in Arizona and drove eastbound. Several of the passengers indicated that they or members of their family had paid a smuggler to get them into the country and to their destination. Others indicated they paid or were going to pay the Flores-Calderon to transport them to various cities in the United States.

Flores-Calderon had previously been deported from the United States following convictions for illegal entry and reentry into the United States at least six times.

“Today’s sentence reflects our firm and lasting commitment to stopping the illicit flow of human beings who are treated as nothing more than cargo,” said Katherine Greer, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City. “HSI, and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant against those with obvious disregard for our nation’s laws, and we will continue to seek out such people and place them before the bar of justice.”

Homeland Security, Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), St. Louis County Police Department and the Eureka Police Department investigated this case.

St. Louis, MO – Defendant Rene Flores-Calderon, 35 of Mexico, pleaded guilty to eight counts of transportation of undocumented aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law and to his illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. He appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey who accepted his guilty plea and set sentencing for May 15, 2019.

According to court documents, on August 2, 2018, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman stopped a maroon Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Interstate 44, just east of the Franklin County line, in St. Louis County, Missouri.  Flores-Calderon was inside the vehicle.  The suburban also contained 10 undocumented adult aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador and three undocumented unaccompanied minor children. During the stop, Flores-Calderon fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the next day.

Flores-Calderon admitted in court at the time of his guilty pleas that he knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that the passengers were undocumented aliens in the United States in violation of the law and that he transported the passengers within the United States with the intent to further the alien’s unlawful presence.

Interviews were conducted of the passengers in the vehicle. In summary they stated that they had crossed at various points into the United States illegally. Flores-Calderon picked them up in Arizona and drove eastbound. Several of the passengers indicated that they or members of their family had paid smugglers to get them into the country and to their destination. Others indicated they paid or were going to pay Flores-Calderon to transport them to various cities in the United States.

Flores-Calderon had previously been deported from the United States following convictions for illegal entry and reentry into the United States at least six times.

Flores-Calderon faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both per count.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the Missouri Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Eureka Police Department and the Pacific Police Department.

An August 2nd traffic stop on Interstate 44 in southwest St. Louis County has led to the indictment of nine previously deported aliens who are alleged to have taken part in an alien smuggling scheme.

            Rene Flores-Calderon, age, 34, is alleged to have smuggled eight previously deported aliens into St. Louis County before being discovered during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 in the southwestern part of St. Louis County.  Flores-Calderon is also alleged himself to have illegally re-entered the United States after being deported from Del Rio, Texas in 2016 to Mexico.

            The eight other previously deported aliens Flores-Calderon is alleged to have smuggled and who are each alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States after deportation are:

Eladio Velasquez-Velasquez, age 24, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Calexico, California earlier in 2018 to Mexico.

 

Elias Velasquez-Vleasquez, age 30, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Brownsville, Texas in 2009 to Mexico.

 

Enrique Sebastian Cedillo-Santiago, age 24, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Brownsville, Texas in 2017 to Guatemala.

 

Mynor Lucas Galvez-Galvez, age 28, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Phoenix, Arizona in 2015 to Guatemala.

 

Jose David Hernandez-Salazar, age 34, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Chandler, Arizona in 2007 to Honduras.

 

Aaron Danilo Rivera-Urbina, age 29, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Phoeniz, Arizona in 2016 to Honduras.

 

Carlos Joel Perez-Merino, age 32, who is alleged to have been previously deported from Phoenix, Arizona earlier in 2018 to El Salvador.

 

Jose Danilo Balan-Boc, age 21, who is alleged to have been previously deported earlier in 2018 to Guatemala.

 

All nine defendants named in the Indictment have been in Immigration custody since being discovered on August 2nd.   They will remain in custody until the conclusion of their criminal cases.

Flores-Calderon, the alleged smuggler, faces a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years for each of eight alien smuggling charges and an additional ten years on his unlawful re-entry charge.

Because of his prior criminal convictions, Rivera-Urbina faces up to twenty years imprisonment for unlawful re-entry.

Title 8 United States Code Section 1326 sets out enhanced penalty ranges for those convicted of unlawful re-entry with prior criminal convictions.

The seven remaining defendants face a term of imprisonment of up to 2 years on the charges of unlawful re-entry.

If convicted, all nine defendants also face removal from the United States after completing a term of imprisonment.

“Human smugglers are driven by greed and demonstrate a total disregard for our laws and for human life,” said James M. Gibbons, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Chicago.  “HSI will continue to enforce the laws these criminals attempt to skirt, in our commitment to pursue those that exploit and endanger the people they smuggle into our country.”

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the Missouri Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Eureka Police Department and the Pacific Police Department.