Man charged after 14 immigrants die in border crossing

A survivor of a border crossing that ended in 14 deaths in the Arizona desert has been indicted on 25 immigrant smuggling charges.

Jesus Lopez-Ramos, 20, faces a charge for each of the 14 deaths and for each of the 11 other survivors, said Mike Johns, first assistant US Attorney in Phoenix.

The maximum penalty for immigrant-smuggling that results in a death is a death sentence, but Johns said prosecutors have not decided whether to seek it.

The indictment by a Tucson grand jury replaces a criminal complaint filed on Monday charging Lopez-Ramos with bringing in illegal aliens, conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens and harboring illegal aliens.