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Guilty! Vernon Woman Smuggled Workers Into US, Used Threats, Unpaid Debt To Exploit Them: DOJ
A Connecticut woman who smuggled immigrants into Connecticut and trapped them in a cycle of debt, labor, and fear has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, authorities announced.
Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, 47, a Mexican national living in Vernon, pleaded guilty to her role in a human trafficking scheme that preyed on vulnerable immigrants, including minors, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.
Investigators found that Ramos, her mother, and others smuggled at least 19 victims — many from Mexico — into the U.S., charging them up to $20,000 just to cross the border. Once in C…