LOS ANGELES, CA – The Firm defended a client involved a charge of Conspiracy to Harbor and Transport Aliens to the United States, Transporting Illegal Aliens, and Harboring Illegal Aliens for Private Financial Gain. Specifically, our client’s involvement was limited to transporting illegal aliens to a nearby home. Defendant’s role appeared to be related to his relationship with friends and limited to helping the aliens until they could be met by their families. Our law office prepared a meticulous defense and worked to negotiate a lower charge rarely allowed in federal courts – Accessory after the Fact to Harboring an Alien (18 U.S.C. 3). The original charge of smuggling or transporting an Alien would have resulted in certain deportation of the defendant from the United States, a place he had lived for over twenty years as a Legal Permanent Resident, without any prior crimes.
Based on the client’s lack of prior criminal history, his acceptance of responsibility for his criminal actions, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities between defendant’s and his significantly more culpable co-defendants, the defendant further was sentenced to only a three-year term of probation with a six-month’s home detention and community service rather than jail time.
