Smuggler lead illegals through California bombing range

Javier Sanchez Perfino pleaded guilty Thursday to smuggling dozens of illegal aliens each day for four years through a live bombing range in southern California. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

A Mexican citizen and a legal U.S. resident, Sanchez ran immigrants through the range from 2003 to 2006. He charged them $1,500 per person.

The government said Sanchez stashed the illegals at two houses in Holtville, east of San Diego. Guides then led them through the bombing range. Though officials says there may be a large amount of unexploded ordnance scattered on the range, no illegal aliens have been reported killed by explosives there, said the Border Patrol.

Smugglers are drawn to bombing ranges in the area, where pilots are trained before going to war in Afghanistan, because immigration authorities avoid them.