Mexican National In Hartford Sentenced For Smuggling Illegals: Feds

HARTFORD/BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Mexican national was sent to prison Monday by a federal judge for his role in an immigrant smuggling scheme shuttling other Mexicans to the Hartford area.

David X. Sullivan, U.S. attorney for Connecticut, said Apolinar Francisco Paredes Espinoza,, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to more than three years in prison ( 40 months).

He was sentenced, Sullivan said, for illegally reentering the U.S. and his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who said they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford.

The victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero and others in Connecticut and Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S., Sullivan said.

In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico, he said.

They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death, he said.

Officials said, after the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest.

In addition, officials said, they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-conspirators for rent, food, gas, and utilities.

Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area, Sullivan said.

In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced, authorities said.

To date, investigators have identified 19 victims of this scheme.

Multiple victims were minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian, according to Sullivan.

Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023.

On Nov. 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien.

Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.

On April 11, Sanchez was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment, and on March 7, 2025, Ramos was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.

Judge Dooley ordered Paredes to pay, jointly and severally with his codefendants, restitution of $574,608.

Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.

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