Three sentenced in smuggling case

Three Reynosa men were each sentenced to more than two years in prison Monday for their roles in a conspiracy to steal and smuggle millions of dollars in heavy trucking equipment to Central America.

Prosecutors allege the men either drove the stolen tankers, tractor trailers and professional cranes through various Rio Grande Valley ports of entry or recruited others to do so.

According to court documents, each was working for 42-year-old Houston resident Yuri David Melendez, who had hired them to supply requests for the black market equipment for buyers in Central America.

A federal judge sentenced Victor Antonio Garcia, 27, to four years and three months in prison for his role in the conspiracy, which included three separate thefts in late 2008 and 2009.

Orlando Gonzalez Huerta, 29, received a two-year sentence for the February 2009 theft of two tanker trucks and trailers stolen from an oil company outside of Houston.

And Rito Jasso Zorilla, 32, was sentenced to three years and five months for recruiting drivers for Melendez between 2001 and 2008.

Melendez has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft and currently awaits sentencing in a Houston federal court.

Monitor staff writer Jeremy Roebuck compiled this report.