Boss in human-smuggling ring gets life sentence plus 7 years

Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 25, 2007 12:00 AM

A boss in one of Arizona's most notorious human-smuggling rings was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison plus seven years for conspiracy, hostage-taking, harboring illegal aliens and using a gun during crimes of violence.

Jesus "Pablo" Medina-Nevarez, 25, of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Phoenix by Judge Roger Strand.

Lisa Jennis Settel, prosecutor in the case, identified Medina-Nevarez as a manager of the Franco Alien Smuggling Organization, a coyote operation that smuggled thousands of undocumented immigrants through Phoenix in recent years. She said more than 100 members of the Franco crime ring have been charged and convicted to date, with none gaining acquittals or having charges dropped.

Medina-Nevarez and other gang members were charged with holding 56 immigrants hostage in a Phoenix drop house after smuggling them across the border. Victims testified that they were beaten, threatened with death, covered with plastic bags and burned with cigarettes.