TUCSON — A Mexican national accused of transporting illegal immigrants for profit resulting in death had his preliminary hearing waived Wednesday in federal court.
 Morquecho |
Morquecho-Valdez was charged by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following a Sunday morning single-vehicle crash eight miles east of Sierra Vista in which at least a half dozen illegal immigrants were injured, two illegal immigrants were killed, and the rest were taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol. All of the illegal immigrants were Mexicans, authorities said.
The 2001 Dodge pickup apparently driven by the defendant had been reported stolen out of Phoenix on April 7, which follows a trend of human trafficking involving stolen vehicles, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Two people who were injured were taken to the Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee, and four of the injured were flown to University Medical Center in Tucson.
All had been released from the hospitals as of Wednesday.
The Mexican Consulate in Douglas has not yet released the names of the two men killed, saying it is still attempting to notify the next of kin.
The men’s ages were 18 and 47.
Comments
an American wrote on Apr 20, 2008 4:52 AM:
Peter Frescholz wrote on Apr 19, 2008 9:07 AM:
Dewlso wrote on Apr 19, 2008 2:41 AM:
Vexed Veteran wrote on Apr 18, 2008 1:37 PM:
Here we have MS 13 killing blacks and other illegals or basically anyone they want to kill. Then Mayor Villagrossa goes to Washinton DC and says the crime stats are lower than the 1950's. "