A.J. FLICK

A Sonora man will spend more than seven years in federal prison after admitting he detained illegal immigrants in a South Tucson house.
Sinforiano Sanchez-Valenzuela, 51, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, could have received life in prison when he went before U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata yesterday in Tucson.

Sanchez-Valenzuela and 48 other illegal immigrants were arrested Sept. 6, 2002, by U.S. Border Patrol agents at a home in the 4000 block of South 12th Avenue, said Sandy Raynor, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona.

Sanchez-Valenzuela admitted keeping the other immigrants in the home until they secured money to pay for travel to other cities.

Sanchez-Valenzuela received more than $130,000, according to records he kept.