Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, also known as Maria Carmela Sanchez, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 51 months in federal prison. Sanchez, a Mexican national, was involved in a scheme to smuggle individuals into the United States, where they were subjected to forced labor and exploitation under threats of harm.
Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Marc H. Silverman, announced the sentencing. According to court documents, the investigation began in September 2022 when the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals. These individuals disclosed being smuggled into the U.S. and forced to work in Hartford under coercive conditions.
The investigation revealed that victims arranged with Sanchez and others to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. They paid a fee between $15,000 and $20,000, often securing payments with property deeds. Smuggled into Hartford, they faced increased expenses, including fees for rent and utilities, often amounting to $30,000 plus interest.
The conspirators, including Sanchez, provided the victims with false documents like Permanent Residence and Social Security cards. The victims found employment locally but were also required to perform unpaid housework and yardwork.
Threats of harm to victims' family members in Mexico, confiscation of property used as collateral, exposure of their immigration status to U.S. authorities, and increased financial demands were common tactics used to enforce compliance. Nineteen victims, including minors, were identified, with some smuggled without a legal guardian.
Sanchez has been detained since her arrest on March 1, 2023, and pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024, to conspiracy charges related to her actions. Judge Dooley ordered her to pay $574,608 in restitution. Sanchez will face immigration proceedings after completing her prison sentence.
The investigation involved several federal and local agencies, including the FBI, Hartford Police, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.