Mexican national sentenced for harboring migrants in San Benito

Almost four percent of more than 300,000 civil cases filed in Texas courts in 2015 involved plaintiffs or petitioners who didn’t have an attorney, according …

Almost four percent of more than 300,000 civil cases filed in Texas courts in 2015 involved plaintiffs or petitioners who didn’t have an attorney, according to the Texas Office of Court Administration. (Photo courtesy of the Texas Tribune)

by: Alejandra Yañez

Posted: Jan 13, 2023 / 10:49 AM CST

Updated: Jan 13, 2023 / 10:49 AM CST

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Mexican man illegally residing in San Benito has been sentenced to federal prison for harboring undocumented individuals among other convictions, federal prosecutors said.

Early Thursday, Garcia-Torres was ordered to serve 48 months in federal prison. Due to his immigration status, Garcia-Torres is expected to be deported following his imprisonment, a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

On July 28, Edgar Garcia-Torres, 22, pleaded guilty to harboring undocumented individuals within the U.S. for commercial advantage and private financial gain, being in possession of a firearm while illegally present in the country and illegally re-entering into the United States.

Garcia-Torres admitted to harboring 50 to 60 undocumented people at the San Benito residence.

Almost a month prior to his plea, Garcia-Torres was discovered harboring migrants in a San Benito residence. A search of a second residence located on Bowie Street resulted in the seizure of two firearms that were traced back to Garcia-Torres. The stolen firearms were valued at $17,500.

Garcia-Torres will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.