U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced on Mar. 19 that Andres Carrillo-Hernandez, a 27-year-old citizen of Mexico, has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with alien smuggling. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum of ten years.
The case centers on an incident that occurred on March 15, when Buffalo Border Patrol agents received information about possible alien smuggling activity. According to the complaint, agents observed two adult males and an adult female carrying a small child inflating a raft on the Canadian shoreline at Boyers Creek using infrared cameras. The group then crossed the upper Niagara River toward the United States.
Border Patrol agents located the raft near West River Road in Grand Island, New York. Carrillo-Hernandez, identified as the driver of the raft, was taken into custody for illegally entering the United States and suspected alien smuggling. Agents also discovered another adult male, an adult female, and an infant child nearby; both adults were arrested for illegal entry into the country.
Carrillo-Hernandez admitted to federal agents that he was paid approximately $2,000 to transport the two adults and child from Canada to the United States by raft. Investigators determined that neither Carrillo-Hernandez nor those he transported had applied for or received authorization to enter the United States.
Carrillo-Hernandez made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 24.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol under Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato’s direction. Authorities emphasized that “the fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
