Human smuggler sentenced to prison for raping migrant he had in …

A human smuggler has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a migrant, according to the Webb County District Attorney's Office. On April 6, a grand jury sitting in the 111th District Court indicted Leonel Botello on two charges of sexual assault. On March 15, Botello pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Christina Rodriguez prosecuted the case. The case dates back to Aug.

18, 2021, when Laredo police received information that several apartments on Flores Avenue were being used to stash migrants. After surveillance, officers knocked on the door of one of the apartments and saw several people lying on the floor.

Police discovered 31, 15, and 20 migrants being stashed at three respective apartments in the building. Authorities then encountered Botello outside the building with a female migrant. She then cried out that Botello sexually assaulted, authorities said.

She told investigators that Botello performed sexual acts on her and that he forced her to perform sexual acts on him several times over the course of various days, according to the DA's Office. Asked about the incident, Botello first claimed that the migrant was his ex-girlfriend and that he had a relationship with her over several years. However, Botello did not know the migrant's name.

He then admitted that he had met the migrant the day before and claimed that he had sex with her once.

During this interview, Botello also admitted to receiving money for harboring migrants at one of the apartments.

Police would seize Botello's cellphone, where authorities found several unclothed photos of the migrant, authorities said.