AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said an Austin man was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison in connection with a fatal smuggling attempt.
The DOJ said 27-year-old Joseph Alex Hernandez was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentences for the charges are expected to run concurrently.
Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 23, 2023, and was later sentenced in a San Antonio federal court, according to the DOJ.
The department said on April 24, 2022, Hernandez evaded during an attempted traffic stop, reaching speeds between 90 and 100 mph. The DOJ said a rear tire on his vehicle gave out, and he lost control, resulting in the vehicle crashing after flipping multiple times.
According to the DOJ, Hernandez was transporting 13 undocumented noncitizens during the chase.
“Three of the passengers were airlifted from the scene and the rest were transported via ambulance to local hospitals,” the DOJ said. “Several days later, two of the smuggled migrants died in the hospital from their injuries.”
