McALLEN, Texas – A 30-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for harboring undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Adan Hernandez-Nunez pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2016.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Hernandez-Nunez to 50 months imprisonment. The sentence was enhanced because he raped one of the undocumented aliens. Upon imposing the sentence, the court noted that the sentence was warranted due to the rape and the harm that Hernandez-Nunez put these individuals in by engaging in this crime.
From June 7 to July 14, 2016, Hernandez-Nunez harbored undocumented aliens in a residence in Palmhurst. During this time, he sexually assaulted one undocumented alien and threatened to kill her if she reported the assault to anyone.
On July 15, 2016, an undocumented Honduran alien advised Border Patrol agents that another female undocumented alien had previously escaped from the same stash house. The victim further advised agents that Hernandez-Nunez had accused her of encouraging the female undocumented alien to escape and threatened her, saying she “was going to pay for it.” Subsequently, on July 11, 2016, Hernandez-Nunez raped the undocumented Honduran alien.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Benavides and Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.