Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Legal professional for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Particular Agent in Cost of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody right now introduced that MARIA DEL CARMEN SANCHEZ POTRERO, also referred to as Maria Carmela Sanchez, 69, and APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also referred to as “Pancho,” 56, each of residents of Mexico residing in Hartford, have been arrested yesterday on federal prison complaints charging every with offenses stemming from their smuggling of aliens into the U.S., harboring them at their Hartford residence, forcing them to work, and threatening to hurt them in varied methods in the event that they didn’t pay exorbitant charges, curiosity and different residing bills.
Sanchez and Paredes appeared yesterday earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Robert A. Richardson in Hartford who ordered them detained. A bond listening to for Sanchez is scheduled for March 8.
As alleged in court docket paperwork and statements made in court docket, starting in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed roughly 10 Mexican nationals who disclosed that they have been smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The victims usually said that that they had organized with Sanchez and her associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in trade for a payment of between $15,000 and $20,000 that every would want to pay as soon as they have been within the U.S. Generally, the victims have been required to show over a property deed as collateral earlier than leaving Mexico. They have been then smuggled throughout the border and transported to Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Road in Hartford.
It’s also alleged that after the victims arrived in Hartford, Sanchez knowledgeable them that they must pay $30,000, with curiosity, and that they must pay her for hire, meals, fuel and utilities. Sanchez and Parades created false paperwork for the victims, together with Everlasting Residence playing cards and Social Safety playing cards, and helped the victims discover employment within the Hartford space. Along with their very own jobs, some victims have been required to carry out work round the home, or to help Paredes in his job obligations with out compensation and with out having their debt lowered.
It’s additional alleged that Sanchez hardly ever offered victims with an accounting of their debt. If victims didn’t make common funds, or in quantities that she anticipated, Sanchez and Paredes would threaten the victims, together with threatening to hurt members of the family in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to disclose victims’ immigration standing to U.S. authorities, and to boost their curiosity funds. In a single occasion, Sanchez threatened to name police to say {that a} sufferer had tried to rape her.
Sanchez and Paredes are charged with conspiracy to smuggle, transport, harbor, and encourage or induce aliens to enter and reside within the U.S., an offense that carries a most time period of imprisonment of 10 years; conspiracy to commit labor trafficking, an offense that carries a most time period of imprisonment of 20 years; and extortion, an offense that carries a most time period of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Legal professional Avery pressured {that a} prison grievance just isn’t proof of guilt. Costs are solely allegations, and a defendant is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt.
This investigation is being performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Division, U.S. Division of Labor – Workplace of Inspector Basic, U.S. Division of Labor, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.
