Son of Popular Mariachi Singer Pepe Aguilar Faces Human Smuggling Charges Monica Garske and Pablo Kay - NBCSanDiego
go to original March 31, 2017

This photo shows the four undocumented Chinese nationals found crammed in the trunk of Jose Emiliano Aguilar's car at the San Ysidro Port of Entry (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

A man accused of trying to smuggle four undocumented Chinese nationals crammed in the trunk of his car across the U.S.-Mexico border into San Diego has been identified as the son of a famous Mexican mariachi musician.

Jose Emiliano Aguilar, 24 – son of Grammy Award-winning mariachi star Pepe Aguilar – was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on March 14 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. According to a complaint filed in federal court, Jose allegedly arranged to smuggle the immigrants into the U.S. on a deal that they would each pay him between $3,000 and $60,000 if they successfully entered the country.

During a routine primary inspection of Jose’s car, a K-9 alerted officers to the trunk. Officers told Jose to unlock it; inside the small space, were four undocumented Chinese nationals – three women and one man.

Jose and his companion were detained while CBP officers removed the people from the trunk. They were questioned as “material witnesses” and, according to documents, admitted they were citizens of China without lawful documents to enter the U.S.

They had each made their own smuggling arrangements with Jose, agreeing to pay him to help them get into the U.S. Two of the Chinese nationals said they planned to head to Los Angeles, while the other two said they were headed to New York City.

Jose faces federal charges on suspicion of human smuggling.

Read the rest at NBCSanDiego

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