A Mexican national has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for operating a human smuggling and labor trafficking scheme in Connecticut, federal prosecutors announced this week.
Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, also known as Maria Carmela Sanchez, received a 51-month sentence and was ordered to pay $574,608 in restitution to her victims. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) supported the multi-agency investigation that led to her conviction.
Victims paid thousands and were forced into labor
According to court records, Sanchez and her co-conspirators targeted individuals in Mexico, charging them up to $20,000 to be smuggled into the United States. In many cases, victims were forced to provide property deeds as collateral before leaving Mexico.
Once smuggled into Connecticut, victims were housed in Hartford and told their debt had increased to approximately $30,000 with interest. They were then required to pay rent, food, utilities, and transportation fees while working to repay the inflated debt.
Threats, coercion, and false documents used
Victims were not only financially exploited—they were also physically and emotionally coerced. Investigators found that when victims failed to make payments, Sanchez threatened to harm their relatives in Mexico, seize their property, or report them to immigration authorities.
Sanchez also produced false documents, including fake Green Cards and Social Security cards, and used them to help victims find employment. In addition to their paid jobs, some victims were required to perform unpaid housework and yardwork, with no reduction to their debt.
Minors among the 19 known victims
The investigation identified 19 victims, including multiple minors. At least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a guardian.
The case was investigated by USCIS, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Hartford Police, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel prosecuted the case. Sanchez faces deportation after completing her prison term.
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