SAN ANTONIO — The mysterious girl who allegedly lured dozens of migrants on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ flights to Martha’s Vineyard from San Antonio has been recognized by a number of media retailers as Perla H. Huerta, a former fight medic and U.S. Army counterintelligence agent dwelling in Tampa.
The New York Times reported late Sunday {that a} Venezuelan migrant who was working with Huerta to recruit migrants confirmed her identification, and a migrant in San Antonio whom Huerta had unsuccessfully sought to enroll recognized a photograph of her.
CNN reported {that a} good friend of Huerta confirmed her identification in a photograph offered by a migrant. Pictures have been circulating of the girl — till now identified merely as “Perla” — after she allegedly recruited lots of the 48 Venezuelan migrants outdoors a city-operated shelter in downtown San Antonio and moved them at a La Quinta Inn, earlier than they had been flown to the upscale Massachusetts island on the expense of Florida taxpayers.
The San Antonio Express-News, citing unnamed sources, reported Monday that the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, which incorporates San Antonio, considers Huerta, 43, a “person of interest” in its prison investigation into the incident.
Sheriff’s workplace spokesman Johnny Garcia mentioned in an announcement Monday the workplace had not confirmed or recognized any individuals of curiosity within the ongoing investigation. Asked about Huerta, Garcia had instructed the Express-News, “We are not publicly identifying anybody.”
The Associated Press tried quite a few telephone numbers and emails for potential matches for Perla H. Huerta or attainable kin, and acquired no reply or the strains had been disconnected.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar has mentioned he’s trying into whether or not the migrants had been lied to or if the 2 flights final month broke any legal guidelines. Some migrants have mentioned they had been enticed with McDonald’s reward playing cards and guarantees of jobs and housing that by no means materialized.
U.S. Army spokesperson Madison Bonzo confirmed to the AP {that a} Perla H. Huerta left the navy in August and served as a fight medic and labored in counterintelligence. She held the rank of grasp sergeant when she left the service and had deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Djibouti.
DeSantis mentioned he used contractors for the operation, however he has refused to launch particulars or the contracts.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”