A Sierra Vista man has been sentenced to just under five years in prison after being convicted of smuggling immigrants
Terry Lee Chance, 39, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to transport aliens for profit and making false statements, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says.
While on pretrial release for the charges, prosecutors say that Chance transported another group of illegal immigrants.
When law enforcement approached him at a checkpoint on U.S. Route 90 near Whetstone, police say he fled.
Chance was eventually apprehended and told agents that one of the immigrants had put a gun to his head and forced him to flee the checkpoint.
Border Patrol agents later concluded that he made up the story.
