Laredo Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Kidnapping of Unauthorized Immigrants Who Were Reportedly Beaten

A Laredo man pleaded guilty to his role in the kidnapping of several unauthorized immigrants last year who were reportedly assaulted during the smuggling incident. Jesus Osorio, 43, admitted to conspiracy to harbor and transport unauthorized immigrants Monday during his re-arraignment hearing, according to the Department of Justice. Eight Mexican citizens who'd arranged to be smuggled into the U.S. were held against their will once they were brought over the border. They were then reportedly beaten, forced to get undressed and ordered to contact their families to get ransom for their release, according to the Department of Justice. On July 5, 2016, authorities found them. One of the unauthorized immigrants was seriously injured and required hospitalization. Before they were discovered, they stayed at a residence in Laredo for two weeks before Osorio transported them to a stash house, where they were later kidnapped, an investigation revealed. Three people from Laredo then allegedly held them at the second location and assaulted them. The men, 20-year-old Angel Alexis Diaz, 42-year-old Jose Israel Diaz and 42-year-old Julio Osorio pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to kidnap illegal aliens. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol. The sentencing for Osorio is set for Jan. 2, 2018. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  Continue reading...