Mexican national found guilty of bringing illegal aliens into U.S.

A Mexican national was found guilty last week of federal felonies related to smuggling illegal aliens in Hancock County.

Abel Michua-Tototzin, 37, was found guilty on August 17 after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Taylor McNeel in Gulfport.

On April 27, a Hancock County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Michua-Tototzin’s 2007 Chevy Tahoe with North Carolina plates on I-10 eastbound. He had four passengers. Border Patrol could not respond to the traffic stop, so they were released. Border Patrol later determined all five in the TAhoe were in the U.S. illegally.

On May 17, Border Patrol stopped the same vehicle eastbound on I-10, again driven by Michua-Tototzin. He and his six passengers were found to be in the U.S. illegally.

Michua-Tototzin was found guilty of conspiracy to bring one or more aliens into the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry; conspiracy to unlawfully transport aliens within the U.S.; unlawful transportation of one or more aliens within the U.S. and unlawful return of an alien to the U.S. after deportation or removal.

Michua-Tototzin faces up to 17 years in prison and a $750,000 in fines and a $5,100 in special assessments at sentencing. After his prison sentence is complete, he also faces deportation.

Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on November 21 in Gulfport.