The sentencing comes three years to the day of the deadliest migrant tragedy in U.S. history.
SAN ANTONIO — Three years after the deadliest migrant tragedy in U.S. history took place in San Antonio, two men who were involved are receiving their sentences.
53 people died from heatstroke on Quintana Road that day. Investigators say 64 people were screaming and clawing for help as temperatures inside the tractor-trailer soared. Among the victims were six children and a pregnant woman. Only 11 people survived.
On Friday, Armando Gonzales-Ortega, 55, was sentenced to over 87 years in prison for his role in the deaths, with a supervised released term of 3 years on counts 1 and 2.
Felipe Orduna-Torres, 32, received two life sentences and an additional 20-year sentence on three counts against him.
Both men were fined $250,000 in addition.
The two men had been found guilty in March for their roles in the tragedy.
The judge started off the sentencing hearing by saying to the two suspects, “your day has arrived.” The judge also called it a “difficult case,” and read the names of all 53 people who died that day out of respect.
The prosecution read off 14 victim impact statements during the sentencing. A father of one of the victims said that “the punishment should be harsh.” The brother of one of the survivors said that he would never be the same and suffered memory loss. And one victim’s mother said she had to learn of her son’s death through a news report.
Prosecutors said during the trial that Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega had been running a smuggling operation since at least 2020. They knew the trailer’s air conditioning didn’t work but still transported dozens of migrants from Laredo to San Antonio, prosecutors said.
Defense attorneys said Gonzales-Ortega is extremely sorry for the situation but requested leniency. “They want to take full responsibility.” He also said, “I just want forgiveness from all of the victims and all of you.”
Gonzales-Ortega has no prior criminal record and was coming to the United States for the same reason as the victims, the attorney said.
Felipe Orduna-Torres said before his sentence, “To spend the rest of my life in prison, I know that many people lost their lives. I don’t know how it happened.”
“These criminals will spend the rest of their lives in prison because of their cruel choice to profit off of human suffering,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s sentences are a powerful message to human smugglers everywhere: we will not rest until you are behind bars.”
In his 31 years on the bench, the judge said he’s given maybe three life sentences in total. He also said he was going to remember this one, due to this being “the most horrific offense.”
In a news conference following the sentencing, Justin Simmons, US attorney for the Western District, said the job isn’t over, as five other people also have been found guilty in the case and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Simmons did mention how this is a major milestone in the case, and hopefully the outcome can help the families with their healing processes.
The U.S. government said they will make sure nothing like this happens again.