SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A federal jury in San Antonio has reached a verdict in the case involving the deaths of 53 migrants found in the back of a tractor-trailer in 2022.
The two individuals, Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, were convicted for their roles in the smuggling operation that led to the fatalities.
The incident occurred in San Antonio, where 53 migrants were left inside a tractor-trailer without ventilation or adequate provisions.
The extreme heat in the truck resulted in many victims succumbing to heatstroke and suffocation.
Emergency responders found the truck abandoned on a remote road, where they assisted the survivors and recovered the bodies of the deceased.
During the trial, the court heard testimonies from survivors and reviewed evidence linking Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega to the planning and execution of the operation.