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Border & Immigration

Woman, 85, Gets Prison For Human Smuggling

Grandmother Sentenced
Grandmother Sentenced

Felicitas Gurrola was the head of a mostly female smuggling ring that brought an average of 80 illegal migrants from Tijuana to Los Angeles each month. They charged between $3,000 to $3,500 a person.

Her small family-run smuggling operation is now a rarity along the border. Violent criminal organizations have taken over the human smuggling business, which is endangering the lives of many poor migrants paying more and more money to cross illegally into the U.S.

Gurrola was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Two other women, including Gurrola's daughter, Hilda Moreno Gurrola, also received prison terms.

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Neither the prosecutors, nor Gurrola's attorney, could be reached for comment.