Mexican gets 20 months for immigrant smuggling by Fort Hood soldiers

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A Mexican man living in the U.S. illegally must serve 20 months in prison for arranging immigrants to be smuggled by Fort Hood soldiers through a Texas border checkpoint.

Victoriano Zamora-Jasso was sentenced Wednesday in Brownsville. The 54-year-old Zamora-Jasso in January pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor immigrants and illegal re-entry after deportation.

Investigators say four soldiers from the Central Texas post in 2014 showed Army identification and hid immigrants under military gear to get through the Sarita checkpoint.

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Records show Zamora-Jasso was deported in 2013, but returned to Texas. He was indicted in 2016 and arrested last year near Houston.

The soldiers were convicted of immigrant smuggling-related counts, with sentences ranging from probation to 20 months in prison. Another civilian was sentenced to six years in prison.

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