A federal jury convicted a woman Nov. 18 of illegal-alien smuggling charges that involved a delivery of undocumented people who landed south of Children’s Pool in La Jolla in 2013.
Following a two-week trial in U.S. District Court, a jury deliberated about two hours before finding Sofia Martinez guilty of conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain and three counts of bringing in undocumented workers.
Martinez, 27, had been free on $60,000 bond while living with her mother in San Ysidro, but Judge William Hayes remanded her into custody following the verdict. Sentencing is set for Feb. 23, 2015, and the sentence could be as long as 20 years in prison.
On May 9, 2013, a panga boat with 20 undocumented immigrants left Mexico and planned to stop in Mission Bay, but the driver landed May 10 south of Children’s Pool off La Jolla amid the presence of law enforcement on Mission Bay.
The boat capsized and gasoline spilled in the incident, and one man suffered chemical burns on his feet, according to court records. Fifteen people were arrested in La Jolla, and, except for several witnesses who were detained for trial, the majority were sent back to Mexico.
The aliens were charged $9,000 to $10,000 each for the trip. “In addition to undermining this nation’s boating security, smuggling by ocean is extremely hazardous for undocumented aliens,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy in a statement.
Martinez hired Loreto Mesa-Villegas, 40, to drive the boat, and Angel Arceo-Sevilla, 40, also assisted. Mesa-Villegas and Arceo-Sevilla pleaded guilty to the same four charges and will be sentenced Jan. 5.