On March 7, 2025, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, 47, a Mexican citizen residing in Vernon, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for her involvement in a scheme to smuggle undocumented immigrants into the United States and force them into labor under threats of harm.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, Ramos Sanchez’s illegal activities began with smuggling victims into the U.S., often through her mother, Maria Carmela Sanchez, 73, who coordinated the smuggling operation. Victims, who typically agreed to pay between $15,000 and $20,000 for their passage into the U.S., were required to provide property deeds as collateral before leaving Mexico.
Once in Connecticut, the victims were told their debt had increased to $30,000 due to interest. They were forced to work for no pay, performing tasks like housework and yardwork, while being made to pay for their living expenses such as rent, food, gas, and utilities. The conspirators also created fraudulent Permanent Resident and Social Security cards to help the victims find work.
The victims were subjected to threats of harm, property seizures, and exposure of their immigration status to authorities if they failed to comply with the demands. An investigation led by the FBI and Hartford Police, which began in September 2022, ultimately uncovered the scope of the operation.
Maria Carmela Sanchez, Ramos Sanchez’s mother, also pleaded guilty to her involvement and is awaiting sentencing.
This sentencing highlights the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labor in the U.S., with prosecutors stressing the severity of the exploitation suffered by the victims.
