SAN ANTONIO (Texas News Radio) — A Laredo woman pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempting to smuggle a Mexican boy into the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security said 27-year-old Rosa Elia Amaya applied for admission into the United States from Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry with a boy and her U.S. citizen daughter.

In that application, Amaya claimed to be the boy’s mother and gave authorities a birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

When agents questioned the boy, he remained silent when asked for the location of his mother.  They were able to determine he was not Amaya’s son.

Amaya admitted Monday she agreed to smuggle the boy into the United States in return for $1,500.

She faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000.

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