Fort Worth mother admits to smuggling minors from Mexico

LAREDO, Texas - A 36-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle children into the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On Aug. 8, Sandra Perez applied for admission into the United States driving an SUV. She had her three minor U.S. citizen children with her along with two minor Mexican children.

Perez claimed the two Mexican children were also hers and attempted to present Texas birth certificates and Social Security cards that belonged to her two other children as proof.

After the Mexican children failed to answer authorities questions, Perez admitted to attempting to bring the Mexican children into the United States to the children's mother in Fort Worth, knowing that they did not have legal authority to enter the country.

She also admitted she expected to receive $5,000 per child after delivery.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Perez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Perez was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.