US charges 19 suspects for illegally bringing migrants from Mexico

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US charged 19 alleged members of a human smuggling organization for coordinating the smuggling of dozens of unauthorized migrants from Mexico.

While nine of the 19 are in custody, a grand jury returned an indictment against 14 members of the organization, and a complaint was filed against five others.

"The Justice Department is committed to dismantling transnational human smuggling operations that prey on migrants and threaten our national security,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement on Wednesday. "Nefarious organizations like the one charged in this case can expect to answer for their alleged crimes in American courtrooms."

US agents also seized more than $100,000 and two boxes of ammunition during their enforcement operations, after they confiscated more than $120,000 during the investigation, according to the statement.

If convicted, four individuals in custody each face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 15 years, and up to a $250,000 fine.

Five others each face a maximum penalty of five years and up to a $250,000 fine.