By Sergio Chapa
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 3:45 p.m.
Read more: Local, Crime, Maria Isabel Olivares, Aracely Valdez Robledo, Illegal Immigrants, Illegal Immigration, B&M International Bridge, Customs and Border Protection, Customs, Cbp, Brownsville, Cameron County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mexico
A federal judge sentenced two women to 50 hours community service, one-year's probation and a $10 fee after they allegedly tried to help smuggle an illegal immigrant into the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested Maria Isabel Olivares and Aracely Valdez Robledo on Sunday.
The two women drove up to Brownsville’s B&M International Bridge in a 2006 Ford F-150.
Court records show that a third woman in the truck later identified as Maria Angelica Rodriguez-Carrera showed customs officers a legitimate American birth certificate.
Customs officers allegedly learned during a secondary inspection that Rodriguez-Carrera was a Mexican national without permission to be in the United States.
Court records show that authorities discovered that Rodriguez-Carrera was using a birth certificate that belonged to Robledo’s daughter.
Customs officers also allegedly found a Money Gram receipt in Olivares’ belongings showing that they Rodriguez-Carrera’s family in Faribuilt, Minnesota sent the Brownsville woman $1,515 dollars.
Court records show that Olivares and Robledo were ultimately charged with aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant attempt to enter the United States through false or misleading information.
Both women appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio on Monday morning where they pleaded guilty to the petty offense charge.
Prosecutors told Action 4 News that the crime is punishable up to six months in jail.
Court records show that Judge Recio sentenced each of them to a $10 special assessment and 50 hours community service as a condition of a one-year term of probation.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas told Action 4 News that they respect Judge Recio’s decision.
