SAN DIEGO - A Fallbrook couple who admitted being part of smuggling organization that brought more than 100 illegal immigrants into the United States from Mexico were sentenced on Monday to federal prison terms.
Maria Del Carmen Alvarez and Indalecio Alvarez-Montoya, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain and filing a false income tax return, were sentenced to 37 months and 21 months behind bars, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff also imposed a Criminal Forfeiture order in the amount of $606,770, which represents the total amount of alien smuggling proceeds obtained by the defendants from 2000 through 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to court papers, Maria Del Carmen Alvarez admitted making arrangements to have the illegal aliens brought into the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry by having them present false immigration documents or by hiding them in the trunk of a vehicle.
The defendants admitted making arrangements to have the illegal immigrants transported to their residence in Fallbrook and sheltering the undocumented residents in a guesthouse before their sponsors wired money to pay the smuggling fees.
Prosecutors said the defendants also jointly filed a false tax return that understated their total income and tax due for the year 2003.
