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STAMFORD, Conn. — A Stamford woman and Fairfield man have been charged with conspiring to smuggle a Guatemalan child into the country, a news release from U.S. Attorney David B. Fein said.
According to the release, in 2009 Maria Gonzalez, 42, of Stamford went to Guatemala and made a deal with a pregnant 14-year-old for her to sell her child to her and her husband Henry Fernando Lopez, 36, of Fairfield. After the baby was born Gonzalez attempted to acquire travel documents for the child, but was unsuccessful and then paid $6,000 to receive a fraudulent U.S. passport, the release said.
Gonzalez has been charged with bringing into the U.S. and harboring an alien child, conspiracy, misuse of a U.S. passport, and forgery or false use of a passport, the release said. Lopez was charged with bringing into the U.S. and harboring an alien child and conspiracy, the release said.
She has extra charges because she is a citizen of Argentina and lawful permanent resident in the U.S., the release said.
Gonzalez appeared in court on April 16, and was released after posting a $100,000 bond, and Lopez is being sought by law enforcement, the release said.
The child has been in the custody of Connecticut Department of Children and Families since October 2012, the release said.
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