A member of a group of 16 Colombians, who lied on their visa applications saying they were attending a cheerleading competition, was sentenced to time served, authorities said Thursday.
Duastin Salazar, 28, plead guilty to visa fraud and was sentenced to time served, two years supervised release and $100, according to an email from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On Sept. 30, Salazar arrived at Miami International Airport with the rest of the group saying they had traveled for a South Florida cheerleading competition.
Authorities waited for the group's arrival at the airport and immediately separated the leader. He told officials that he was not a cheerleader and that his plan was to separate from the group and stay in the U.S. for longer than he had stated, authorities said.
Salazar and six of the members were part of the alleged smuggling organization and the other nine participants were illegal aliens attempting to be smuggled into the country, authorities said. The nine aliens were returned to Colombia.
He is the final member of the group to either plead guilty or be convicted in the case, authorities said.
