GRAND FORKS — A Georgia man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants Wednesday, June 7, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Rodolfo Arzola-Carrillo was arrested in November after he was found with a group of suspected illegal immigrants in northeast North Dakota.
According to an affidavit in the case, the Pembina County Sheriff’s Office received a call early Thursday morning, November 17. The caller, Ernesto Falcon Jr., said his vehicle got stuck near the intersection of County Road 55 and 138th Avenue.
The nine-strong group was suspected of attempted smuggling, and five adults later admitted to being in the United States illegally, the affidavit said. They said Arzola-Carrillo and Falcon guided them across the US-Canada border.
Falcon told law enforcement Arzola-Carrillo asked him if he was interested in smuggling groups into the United States, and he eventually agreed because he was struggling financially, the affidavit said.
Arzola-Carrillo was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Wednesday June 7th. The time served will be credited to him. The court recommended that he be housed as close to Tifton, Georgia as possible because that is where his family lives.
After serving his sentence, Arzola-Carrillo is released under supervision for a year.
Falcon’s pleading and sentencing is scheduled for August.
Sav Kelly joined the Grand Forks Herald in August 2022.
Kelly deals with public safety, including local crime and the court system.
Readers can reach Kelly at (701) 780-1102 or skelly@gfherald.com.
