Three women from Glendale pleaded guilty Thursday to smuggling Armenian nationals into the U.S. from Mexico, The Los Angeles Times reports.
Varduhi Avagyan, 42, Meri Avetisyan, 40, and Maria Yanakopulus, 57, pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to being part of an international smuggling organization that charged up to $18,000 per person.
The Armenian nationals went from Armenia to Moscow to Cancun, Mexico. Once in Cancun, they were brought to Tijuana, where they received immigration documents that had been issued to other people, prosecutors said.
cComments
But this shows how much more difficult it is to get here from other countries than for those who live south of the border. That is why the primary problem is those who live south of the border.
AEVANGELISTA
AT 10:37 PM FEBRUARY 12, 2015
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The three each face a maximum three years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced May 11.
