Woman pleads guilty to smuggling people into Hartford

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A 47-year-old woman pleaded guilty Friday to a charge connected to allegations that she was part of a scheme that smuggled undocumented persons into the Hartford area and then threatened the victims’ families if they didn’t pay tens of thousands of dollars.

Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez is a citizen of Mexico who lived in Vernon. Authorities said that the FBI and Hartford police began interviewing Mexican nationals in September 2022 who said that they’d been smuggled into Hartford, forced to work and threatened if they didn’t pay Sanchez and others. At least 18 victims have been identified.

The smuggling group brought people into the U.S. for between $15,000 and $20,000. The victims also had to pay collateral.

Once in Connecticut, they were told to pay $30,000, with interest, for rent, food, gas and utilities. They were also forced to perform unpaid house and yard work.

If the victims didn’t make payments, then they and their families were threatened. They were also told they would reveal their immigration status and would have to pay more interest to Sanchez’s group.

Sanchez has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport and harbor aliens. When sentenced in January, she faces up to a decade in prison. She’s remained incarcerated since she was arrested last October.

Under a plea agreement, Sanchez will pay $494,608 in restitution. She will also sell her property in East Hartford.

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