A Ghanaian member of the Pennsylvania National Guard has been sentenced to 21 months in prison in the United States after admitting his role in a human smuggling operation involving undocumented migrants.
Emmanuel Oppong Agyare, 22, was sentenced alongside his accomplice, 19-year-old Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie, an active-duty United States Army soldier, who received a 13-month prison term.
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According to the United States Department of Justice, the two men attempted to transport undocumented migrants while dressed in their military uniforms in an effort to avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement officers.
Investigators said the pair approached the Hebbronville Border Patrol checkpoint in Texas on June 13, with Agyare driving a sedan and Saint-Joie travelling as a passenger.
During an initial inspection, authorities were told the two soldiers were travelling from Zapata to San Antonio. However, border officials referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection.
The subsequent search uncovered two undocumented Mexican nationals concealed in the boot of the vehicle.
Prosecutors alleged that Agyare and Saint-Joie had agreed to collect the migrants in McAllen and transport them to San Antonio in exchange for an undisclosed sum of money.
Court documents further indicated that the two men were instructed to wear their United States Army uniforms to reduce the likelihood of being questioned by law enforcement officers.
The case, which was prosecuted in the United States, concluded with sentencing on September 20, 2022, following legal proceedings that began in December 2021.
