Published: August 06, 2008 04:21 pm      

Suspects in human trafficking case indicted by feds

Austin — A federal grand jury in Austin has indicted six people arrested in San Marcos last month on charges relating to human trafficking.

The indictment charges Rosalinda Trevino-Alvarez, Luz Maria Garcia-Garza, Julio Cesar Salgado-Ortega, Alejandro Guzman-Ortega, Argeo Salgado-Ortega and Saul Romero-Salgado with one count each of conspiracy to smuggle, transport and harbor illegal aliens, hostage taking, forced labor and conspiracy to use or possess a firearm during a crime of

violence.

In addition, Trevino, Garcia, Salgado and Guzman are charged with a substantive count of alien harboring. Trevino, Salgado and Romero all face at least one substantive charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

“Today’s indictment is a first step in disrupting a substantial human trafficking and smuggling operation based in San Marcos,” United States Attorney Johnny Sutton said. “These organizations often operate in the shadows and can be tough to break but the government believes this one was significant.”

The six were arrested July 16, when local and federal swarmed a mobile home just outside San Marcos that authorities say was the residence of Trevino. In the course of the raid, 26 illegal aliens from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Nicaragua were rescued. Police said they had been kept against their will in the sweltering trailer while the suspects demanded payments from their family members.

Upon conviction of all charges, the defendants face up to life in federal prison.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives together with officers from the San Marcos and Austin Police Departments conducted this ongoing investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gerald C. Carruth is prosecuting.

Indictments are not finding of guilt but do reflect the opinion of grand jurors that there is sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.