The border crisis keeps getting worse, and now we know why. Liberal judges refuse to deliver serious punishment to the criminals orchestrating it.

Even when faced with sophisticated criminal enterprises generating millions in illegal profits, they opt for token sentences that mock justice.

The latest example comes from Seattle, where a federal judge just handed down a measly 15-month sentence to a Mexican national who ran an elaborate human smuggling operation.

The criminal enterprise transported illegal aliens via freight trains across the U.S.-Canada border like cattle.

Jesus Ortiz-Plata, the 46-year-old smuggler who orchestrated this dangerous scheme, will serve just over a year in prison. He’ll likely be deported afterward – free to potentially continue his criminal career elsewhere. This is what passes for “justice” in a liberal sanctuary state.

Dangerous Operation, Minor Consequences

While U.S. District Court Judge James Robart talked tough, his actions told a different story. He acknowledged Ortiz-Plata’s “extensive career” in human smuggling and “callous” disdain for human life. Yet the punishment hardly fits the crime.

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

“This organization took lethal risks with noncitizen’s lives, putting the migrants in horrendous situations that could have easily resulted in death,” the United States District Attorney for the Western District of Washington wrote in a sentencing memo.

The investigation revealed horrifying details that demanded serious prison time. Authorities discovered 29 illegal aliens hidden inside a single rail car. They were concealed among bulk plastic pellets. Human cargo, transported like merchandise – and the mastermind gets just 15 months.

Following the Money Trail

The financial scope makes this light sentence even more outrageous. Ortiz-Plata, operating under the alias “Chuy,” charged $8,000 per person for transportation. Simple math suggests millions in criminal profits. Yet the punishment amounts to mere months behind bars.

Law Enforcement Betrayed

Despite exemplary work by federal agencies, the weak sentence undermines their efforts. Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, and other units conducted extensive surveillance.

They built a solid case. They caught him red-handed. And for what? A sentence that makes a mockery of their work.

The defendant’s courtroom performance was predictable. “I love this country very much and I realize that I have failed it,” he claimed. Judge Robart called out the lie but failed to back up his words with meaningful punishment.

Weak Sentences Enable Crime

This case exposes why criminal enterprises continue to flourish. When profits are high and consequences are low, crime becomes an attractive business model. A 15-month sentence sends a clear message: human smuggling pays.

The evidence is undeniable. America’s border crisis demands judges willing to impose real punishment. Criminal networks calculate risk versus reward. With sentences this weak, they’ll keep exploiting our borders. Only serious prison time can deter them.

Key Takeaways

• Liberal judge’s 15-month sentence makes mockery of major human smuggling operation.
• $8,000 per person smuggling fees suggest millions in criminal profits versus minimal punishment.
• Weak sentencing undermines hard work of law enforcement agencies.
• Light consequences for serious crimes encourage more criminal enterprises to exploit border.

Sources: The Post Millennial