SAN DIEGO -- An immigrant smuggler caught trying to sneak five Chinese citizens into the United States from Mexico is facing 57 months in federal prison.

Jose Antonio Vasquez-Villasenor, 22, who admitted to the charges April 30, was convicted of trying to smuggle five Chinese into Arizona by crossing the Colorado River on Dec. 16, 2003.

Rookie Border Patrol Agent James Paul Epling, 24, drowned in the river near Andrade, Calif., while trying to apprehend the border crossers, 10News reported.

About 85 Border Patrol agents were in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Napoleon Jones for Friday's sentencing. Three of the would-be immigrants were held in the United States as material witnesses in the case.

Vasquez-Villasenor, who could have been sentenced to life in prison as originally indicted, admitted to a charge of immigrant smuggling resulting in a death as part of a plea agreement.