Driver gets 30 years in county’s
worst immigrant smuggling tragedy

By Neal Putnam
The Alpine Sun

     EL CAJON — Just before a 20-year-old driver received 30 years in prison May 30 in one of the county's worst illegal alien smuggling case in which five people died, one of the injured victims told the defendant she has forgiven him and will pray for him.
     Fidel Wilfredo Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen who lived in Hollywood, was ordered to pay $6,662 in restitution to Galdino Perez, whose pregnant wife and two children were killed on June 30, 2005, on State Route 94 about a mile east from Steele Canyon Road in Jamul.
     Perez told El Cajon Superior Court Judge William McGrath he thought Gonzalez "certainly deserves more time in custody" than 30 years "for what he has done to my children, my wife." Perez limped into court as a result of his injuries in the crash.
     "Everyone is in sympathy for the great loss you sustained that day," the judge told Perez. "Nothing we do in this courtroom can (take away) your loss... Nothing we can do here can make anybody whole."
     The minivan Gonzalez was driving had all the seats removed so more people could cram into it for the smuggling venture. Because it was unbalanced, it helped cause the van to roll over several times after Gonzalez struck a Ford F-350 pick-up truck driven by Floella Jones, 71.
     Jones was the one who told Gonzalez she would pray for him. She suffered two fractured ribs, injuries to her knees and hips, and said she had many headaches and nightmares since the head-on crash.
     "Mr. Gonzalez, I'm sorry we're meeting here. I have grandchildren your age," Jones began. "The Lord has helped me forgive you. I couldn't live with myself, so I have forgiven you," said Jones to Gonzalez, who was dressed in blue jail clothing and had a shaved head.
     "I will never forget your bad choices that evening. I hope you think long and hard before you make your decisions. Please make a wiser choice when you are released. I will be praying for you," said Jones.
     McGrath ordered Gonzalez to pay $28,718 in restitution to Jones, which mostly covers the loss of her truck and medical expenses.
     Gonzalez's attorney, Kate Coyne, said her client has no assets. She said if Gonzalez gets a job in prison, he would be paid 17 cents per hour.
     Coyne said restitution is "illusionary," but offered a suggestion that any funds paid from prison wages would go to Perez first since he suffered the greatest loss of life. McGrath accepted that stipulation.
     Gonzalez did not say anything during the sentencing. He originally was charged with five murder counts, but those were dropped when he pleaded guilty March 29 to five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and six counts of assault with a deadly weapon, which was the minivan he drove.
     Gonzalez was driving recklessly around 9:55 p.m., but no law enforcement agency was chasing him. He was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
     Among those killed were Martha Alcala-Perez, her 13-year-old son, Christian Perez, her 10-year-old daughter, Nancy Perez-Ramirez, Jesus Diaz, 30, and Joseph Effrig, 21. They were all from Mexico. Gonzalez and five others in the vehicle were also injured.
     Deputy District Attorney Joe McLaughlin said Effrig was suspected of involvement in the alien smuggling incident, but he died before anyone could question him. McLaughlin said Gonzalez, who was 18 years old when the crash occurred, was not the mastermind, but no one else could be linked to the smuggling venture.
     Gonzalez was given credits of spending nearly two years in jail since the incident, and was fined $10,000. The judge said any restitution to victims would be paid first before any payments would be made towards the fine.

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