Suspect in deadly human smuggling attempt indicted
Jan. 31, 2021
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A man has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a human smuggling attempt in mid-December where a vehicle struck him and an immigrant while crossing U.S. 83 in south Laredo, according to court documents.
Jose Luis Puente-Salazar had been in the hospital recovering while the immigrant died on Dec. 27, authorities said. Puente-Salazar was listed as a John Doe until he made an initial appearance in court via Zoom on Jan. 26.
A federal grand jury returned a 15-count indictment charging Puente-Salazar with conspiracy to transport an undocumented immigrant within the United States resulting in death, transport and attempt to transport an undocumented immigrant resulting in death, conspiracy to transport an undocumented immigrant causing serious bodily injury or placing another in jeopardy of life, transport and attempt to transport an undocumented immigrant ca