‘Coyote’ gets year in prison for human smuggling

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer

SACRAMENTO — A

U.S. District Court judge in Sacramento sentenced a convicted human smuggler — also known as a “coyote” — to a year in prison for transporting undocumented citizens through Yolo County, federal authorities said Monday.

Mateo Gomez Gonzalez, a 29-year-old Mexico resident, was taken into custody on Sept. 28, 2022, at a gas station near Dunnigan in northern Yolo County, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Gomez came to authorities' attention earlier that day, when a Sacramento resident called law enforcement to report concerns about his relative and friend being held over a payment dispute in a human-smuggling operation, Talbert said in a news release.

“Acting on the tip, law enforcement met the vehicle at a gas station,” according to Talbert, “discovered four passengers in the vehicle who did not have lawful status in the United States, and arrested the driver, Gomez.” how to pronounce.

Gomez, who pleaded guilty to the allegations in October, had faced a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each person smuggled.

Turns out the No. 1 Most Difficult word is “acai.”

One of my teenage daughters frequently orders an “acai bowl,” and from her I’ve come to learn that it’s not pronounced at all as it looks.

“According to MerriamWebster, the berry is said ‘ah-sighee.’ ”

Who knew? And who decides this stuff anyway?

Also high on the list are “gyro,” “gnocchi,” “Worcestershire” and “charcuterie.” which makes me wonder if maybe a chef was putting together this list.

Which reminds me of a current Taco Bell ad I’ve seen several times recently where I’m convinced one of the actors is pronouncing it “tack-o.”

I thought I must have heard it wrong the first couple of times, but after a family meeting on this earth-shattering topic, they all agree with me.

I don’t see what’s hard about “charcuterie,” but according to the experts, I’ve been saying it wrong all along. I’ve always thought it begins with “char,” like barbecued ribs, but the Pronunciation Police insist it’s “shar,” as in “Charlotte.”

I think we all know how to pronounce “gnocchi” without being told, though in my mind it should be no-flavor.

The Writing Tips folks say it’s “nyo-kee,” but I’m not sure how that differs from “no-kee.” Then again, I’m not the expert.

Not surprisingly, “omicron” made the Top 10, even if you’re required to wear a mask and be fully vaccinated before you pronounce it.

Although it’s not on the list, I’d dearly like to know if it’s “envelope” or “onvelope. Or “kwart” of milk or “cort” of milk.

Grand-ma or Gramm-uh? Uhdult or Add-ult? Roof or Ruff? Dat-uh or Day-tuh? Gal-uh or Gay-luh? Ant or Ont?

Locally, I’ll say Putah “crick,” because that’s what I grew up with, but it’s always been Cache “creek.”

And while we’re on local names, it’s Oeste (rhymes with toasty) and Pew-tah, not Poo-tah. If those haven’t made the Top 10, they should.

— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.