MCALLEN, TEXAS (AP) -- Two men who held 115 illegal immigrants in several South Texas homes have pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants.
Mexican nationals Vicente Ortiz Soto and Marcial Salas Gardunio admitted to the charge Wednesday in federal court in McAllen.
A 911 call from someone locked in one of the Edinburg homes earlier this month alerted authorities.
The immigrants were being held in the stash house until continuing on the rest of their journey north. Immigrants told authorities that Salas greeted them upon their arrival at the houses saying "Welcome to hell."
Salas had told investigators Ortiz paid him $500 per week to smuggle immigrants.
The two 23-year-olds could face up to 10 years in prison at their sentencing scheduled for July 30.
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