SAN ANTONIO – The trial for a man charged in connection with a deadly smuggling case in 2022 was pushed back several months due to a technical issue with a witness, according to United States District Court Judge Orlando Garcia.
Homero Zamorano Jr. will be the third man sentenced in the tragedy that killed 53 people.
Zamorano was the driver of the tractor-trailer that was used to smuggle 67 migrants, including children, on June 27, 2022. The smuggling was the deadliest case of human trafficking in U.S. history.
The group was smuggled along Interstate 35, and the truck ultimately stopped in the 9600 block of Quintana Road, where the migrants were left in the sweltering heat without ventilation, air conditioning or water.
Garcia said the witness was expected to fly into San Antonio from New Mexico. However, severe weather prevented the flight from taking off.
The witness was also unable to set up his Zoom to appear virtually, which forced a sentencing delay. Garcia did not set a specific date but said it could be another two and three months.
Two other men involved in the case were tried last year and were both found guilty.
Felipe Orduna-Torres was sentenced to two life sentences. Armando Gonzales-Ortega was sentenced to more than 87 years in prison.
Zamorano faces up to life in prison.
More related coverage of this story on KSAT: