Both men pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston to conspiracy to induce and induce an alien to enter and reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private gain, the statement said.

Hugo Giovanni Moraes also pleaded guilty to money laundering, prosecutors said.

The two men participated in the program from July 2016 until October 2022. According to court documents, the immigrants were charged between $12,000 and $22,000 per person.

Prosecutors said the immigrants were brought to Mexico and encouraged to make false claims for asylum and family relationships in the United States. They were also given false information about people in the US to give to immigration authorities.

Prosecutors said some of the migrants were allowed to pay some of their smuggling fees by taking a pay cut after reaching the United States.

The sentencing date was set as February 11.

Levy’s office said the conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each person involved in smuggling. The money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

In exchange for their guilty pleas, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend prison sentences at the lowest level of state guidelines, followed by three years of supervised release, fines, special assessments of $5,000 each and forfeiture of $50,000 seized from the two men. Restaurants dated October 4, 2022, court records show.

Prosecutors urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Moraes’ crimes or has information about the case to contact 888-221-6023 and select Option 5 or email [email protected].

Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @talanez.