Three days later, the smugglers loaded 64 migrants into the trailer for the drive from Laredo to San Antonio, leading to 53 of them dying.
Three days before 53 migrants died in the back of a tractor-trailer, the organizers of the smuggling ring that brought them into the U.S. were warned that the trailer's cooling unit wasn't working properly, according to a mechanic who worked on the big rig.
Juan Francisco D’Luna-Bilboa, who has already pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the tragedy, testified in federal court Friday that he told one of the leaders of the smuggling ring on June 24, 2022, that the refrigeration unit in the trailer was not cooling correctly. ALSO READ: 'Very desperate': Survivors relive hours locked in sweltering trailer Three days later, prosecutors say, the smugglers still loaded 64 migrants into the back of the trailer for a three-hour drive from Laredo to San Antonio. The passengers were locked in as the temperature reached as high as 150 degrees, federal officials say, leading to the deaths of 53 people from hyperthermia when the truck was abandoned in south San Antonio. Federal officials have called it the deadliest human smuggling attempt in the nation's history. D’Luna-Bilboa was in court to testify in trial of Felipe Orduna-Torres, 29, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, 54, who are accused of being part of the smuggling ring. Federal officials say Orduna-Torres was one of two main organizers of the ring and Gonzales-Ortega was a coordinator in the operation. Each are charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. They each face up to life in prison if convicted. Members of the smuggling ring used messaging applications on their phones and at times sent audio messages to communicate with each other, D'Luna-Bilbao testified. As the tractor-trailer was headed to San Antonio, he received a message from another member of the operation that the cooling unit wasn't working in the trailer. Moments after the big rig arrived in San Antonio, D'Luna-Bilbao received a message from another suspect in the case telling him that the trip and the people “were all up,” he testified in Spanish, through a court translator. D'Luna-Bilbao testified that on June 24, 2022, he sent a message to 'Guero,' identified on a document shown in court as Jose Martinez-Olvera, the alleged leader of the smuggling ring, and told him the refrigeration unit in the trailer was not cooling correctly. 'I don't remember exactly 'it's a good thing that it turns on, but we have to check it out again,' he told the jury. D'Luna-Bilbao said the operation's organizers told him to check the cooling unit later. They had warned him before to do as he was told, so he did not mention the malfunctioning cooling system again, he testified. D'Luna-Bilbao, who was arrested within a week of the incident, was charged separately with a weapons count. He also confessed to a small, but important role in the conspiracy — he allowed the smugglers to use his home address in San Antonio to register the tractor-trailer. D'Luna-Bilbao, 50, previously pleaded guilty to five counts related to the smuggling operation. He faces up to life in prison and is awaiting sentencing. He told the jury that he had been hired by some of the members of the organization as a mechanic to check out box trucks and big rigs that were to be used in 'moving people' from Mexico to the United States. Complex smuggling operation Testimony in the trial that began Monday has painted the picture of a three-tiered human smuggling conspiracy designed to transport undocumented immigrants to the United States from countries as far away as Guatemala and Honduras. The migrants would pay a portion of their travel costs — between $10,000 to $15,000 — to make their way to Mexico City, Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo and into tractor-trailers or other vehicles to be smuggled into the United States. D'Luna-Bilbao told the jury his main role was to coordinate the purchase of tractor-trailers, work on the vehicles and then drive them to one of two truck stops to fill them up and leave them for drivers. During cross-examination, defense attorney Edgardo Rafael Baez accused D'Luna-Bilboa of lying to try and earn a shorter prison sentence. Utilizing government exhibits that showed texts and photo correspondence of the previous smuggling attempts, Baez pointed out that D'Luna-Bilboa lied at least 12 times regarding whether he had been able to find a driver for planned trips. D'Luna-Bilbao acknowledged he had lied about finding drivers. 'So you are a liar,' Baez shot back at D'Luna-Bilbao. 'I am telling the truth now,' he told the jury. Baez asked D'Luna-Bilbao if he felt responsible for what happened June 27, 2022. 'No,' D'Luna-Bilbao said. 'Fifty-three people died,' Baez said. 'Do you feel any remorse?' 'They are human beings. I'm not an insensitive person,' D'Luna-Bilbao said. 'When I took the truck to Chuequito, he told me don't ask questions, just bring the truck.' Testimony in the case is scheduled to continue Monday before U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia.
Juan Francisco D'luna-Bilboa Armando Gonzales-Ortega Edgardo Rafael Baez Jose Martinez-Olvera Orlando Garcia Orduna-Torres Felipe Orduna-Torres San Antonio Laredo U.S. Spanish Nuevo Laredo Mexico Honduras Guatemala Monterrey Mexico City D'luna-Bilboa D'luna-Bilbao Chuequito Guero
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Three Teens Die From Flu in San Diego County, Underscoring Urgency of VaccinationThree teenagers have died from the flu this season in San Diego County, all of whom were unvaccinated. County health officials urge families to get the flu vaccine as the virus continues to spread with alarming rates.
Read more »
Three San Diego County teens die from the flu this season, health officials sayThree teenagers are among 73 individuals who have died from the flu this season, according to San Diego County.
Read more »
H-E-B Plots Major Expansion in San Antonio with Three New Store PlansGrocery giant H-E-B is aggressively expanding its footprint in the San Antonio area, with plans for at least three new stores. Details about the specific locations and opening dates remain under wraps but the filings reveal significant investment in these projects.
Read more »
Captain D’s opening first three San Antonio locations next yearAs part of its expansion west of the Mississippi, Captain D’s is growing its presence in Texas with three new locations in San Antonio.
Read more »
Three Men Arrested for Alleged Conspiracy to Steal Gardening Equipment in San Gabriel ValleyThree men were apprehended in San Marino for their alleged involvement in a planned theft of landscaping tools. The incident unfolded when police officers observed a vehicle without license plates, discovering the driver, Cesar Jimenez, was on probation with a history of similar offenses. The front-seat passenger, Jesus Rodriguez, was on parole for assault against a law enforcement official and was also linked to prior gardening equipment thefts.
Read more »
Three San Mateo County Cities Endorse Measure A to Remove Sheriff CorpusBelmont, Redwood City, and South San Francisco officially support Measure A, a ballot initiative that would allow the Board of Supervisors to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus if passed by voters in March. This follows a 400-page investigation revealing abuse of power, retaliation, and intimidation within her administration. Corpus, who has refused to resign, maintains that the accusations are politically motivated. The March 4 election will decide whether to grant the Board temporary power to remove the sheriff for misconduct.
Read more »