'Coyote' pleads guilty in fatal van rollover

A man who federal prosecutors said worked as a "coyote" admitted in federal court Thursday that he was responsible for a fatal van rollover in 2005 that killed two of 14 illegal immigrants being smuggled into the country.

Raul Ramirez-Becerra, who earlier told federal officials his name was Ramses Castellano-Lin, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding in the transport of 14 illegal immigrants.

Federal prosecutors say Ramirez-Becerra was paid by the group to smuggle them into the country. After the Oct. 11, 2005, accident, Ramirez-Becerra walked away from a Moab-area hospital but was later arrested in Phoenix in July 2007.

In July 2006, co-defendant Neo Luna-Escanola was sentenced to two years in federal prison for falling asleep while driving the van, causing the accident. Prosecutors, however, said Ramirez-Becerra was in charge of the smuggling operation.

Ramirez-Becerra said he was paid between $400 and $500 to transport the 14 illegals.

The 27-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10.