Pepe Aguilar Son: José Emiliano Aguilar Pleads Not Guilty To Smuggling Undocumented Migrants

After US justice accused José Emiliano Aguilar, eldest son of singer Pepe Aguilar of human trafficking, the 24-year-old man rejected them and defended his innocence. The case of Aguilar is being treated in a court in San Diego, California. Through his attorney, Jeremy Warren, he sent to his first hearing a statement pleading "not guilty," to the charges.

He was arrested on March 14 at the San Ysidro checkpoint on the border of San Diego and Tijuana, when border agents found four people inside the trunk of his vehicle. According to the officers' version, the hidden passengers were Chinese and allegedly trying to enter the US without the necessary documentation to cross the border. According to the investigation, Aguilar would have arranged to move them if each paid between US$ 3,000 and US$ 60,000.

If convicted of human trafficking, Aguilar could be sentenced to 40 years in prison, and at this time, the defendant is released on bail of US$ 15,000. The next court session will take place on May 15.

Pepe Aguilar broke the silence after the arrest of his son, and stated that his son is not a criminal and will have the unconditional support of his family. "I believe in my son, he is not a criminal and I am sure that he will prove it in his trial. I believe in a society that must be governed by laws and that it must have consequences if one is missing them. So painful, so sad but it is what it is and so is life," Pepe Aguilar expressed.

Human trafficking is thought to be one of the fastest-growing activities of trans-national criminal organizations. According to the International Labour Organization in 2012, was estimated that 21 million victims were trapped in modern-day slavery.

Despite growing awareness about this crime, human trafficking continues to go underreported due to its covert nature, misconceptions about its definition, and a lack of awareness about its indicators.

If you or someone you know needs help you can report to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. En espanol Línea Nacional Contra la Trata de Personas, las 24 horas del día, 7 días a la semana al 1-888-373-7888.