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Three Found Responsible For 19 Deaths

In May 2003, more than 70 illegal immigrants were put into a truck trailer and taken from South Texas to Houston. Seventeen people died inside the container due to dehydration, overheating and suffocation. Two died later. Three people face life in prison after a Texas jury found them responsible for the deadliest human smuggling attempt in U.S. history.

Each person who was found responsible for the deaths was convicted of conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal immigrants those deaths of the 19 people who were left inside an airtight trailer. Transporting illegal immigrants via this method often results in a tragedy like this occuring, and yet smugglers apparently still find it quite effective.

A jury also found Victor Sanchez Rodriguez, 58, guilty of eight counts of harboring and nine counts of transporting illegal immigrants. His wife, Emma Sapata Rodriguez, 59, was convicted of eight counts of harboring and six counts of transporting. Her half-sister, Rosa Sarrata Gonzalez, was convicted of one count of harboring.