4 Mexicans pleaded guilty to immigrant smuggling

4 Mexicans pleaded guilty to immigrant smuggling

Four Mexicans accused of sneaking across
the border pleaded guilty Tuesday under a new state
law targeting immigrant smugglers.

They were among the first 48 alleged customers of
smugglers to be charged as conspirators to the crime.

The four, who pleaded guilty to solicitation to
commit immigrant smuggling, were sentenced to
two years supervised probation and expected to
face deportation proceedings.

Critics say the law was intended to be used
against smugglers, not their customers.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has
said the customers of smugglers need to be
held accountable.

In all, 19 of the 48 have pleaded guilty to
solicitation to commit immigrant smuggling.

Nearly 200 people, most of whom are customers
of smugglers, have been charged in Maricopa County
under the law.

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