A Mexican national pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio to charges related to a June 2022 human smuggling attempt that killed 53 migrants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, 31, confessed to being a member of the human smuggling organization responsible for the failed smuggling attempt that illegally brought adults and children a total of 66 from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico into the U.S., according to a news release.

READ MORE: Vigil held in San Antonio for migrants in human smuggling tragedy

Covarrubias-Ponce faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. 

The smuggling attempt resulted in the nation’s deadliest human smuggling event after dozens of people were locked in a big rig without water or air conditioning in the Texas summer heat. 

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Six other men have federal charges pending against them in connection with the smuggling attempt. Two of them have pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case.

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