A group of 14 individuals from Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico has been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in a highly active alien smuggling organization, according to prosecutors’ announcement on Monday.
The Justice Department has announced that a grand jury in Las Cruces, New Mexico, has issued an indictment against 14 defendants. The charges include conspiracy to transport, harbor, and bring aliens into the United States from South and Central America. Following the indictment, eight of the individuals were arrested on Thursday and Friday.
According to the release, the suspects transported migrants within the United States and kept them in “stash houses” during the journey. Moreover, some of the individuals involved in the smuggling operations engaged in high-speed chases with authorities or provided instructions to migrants on how to escape from U.S. Border Patrol agents and avoid checkpoints.
According to the indictment, the defendants are accused of leaving an individual in the desert, resulting in their death from heat exposure.
Antoinette T. Bacon, a supervisory official with the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, revealed that a smuggling organization, based in Mexico, is accused of smuggling hundreds of migrants, including unaccompanied children, through New Mexico and South Texas.
“We have a strong commitment to eradicating transnational alien smuggling organizations that exploit migrants solely for financial gain and pose a threat to our national security,” she emphasized.
All the defendants have been accused of conspiring to bring, transport, and harbor illegal aliens in the United States. If found guilty, they could each face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. The sentencing will take place at a later date. The indictment lists the following individuals who are charged:
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- Michelle Martinez, 29, of El Paso, Texas
- Jesus Calvillo, 44, of El Paso
- Jorge Calvillo, 25, of El Paso
- Abel Aguilar-Cano, 53, of Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Jose Palomino, 27, of El Paso
- Edna Valdez-China, 48, of El Paso
- Leslie Nicole Calvillo, aka Leslie Jaramillo, 24, of El Paso
- Melissa Vargas, 22, of El Paso
- Jorge Alberto De La Cruz-Dominguez, aka “Guero,” 54, of Juarez, Mexico
- Jorge Valdez China, aka “Lolo,” 23, of El Paso
- Jonathan Valdez-China, aka China and Dior, 24, of Juarez
- Alma Guadalupe Valdez-China, 41, of Juarez
Martinez, Jesus Calvillo, Jorge Calvillo, Aguilar-Cano, and Palomino appeared in court for the first time on Monday in the District of New Mexico. They are currently being held in U.S. custody. Edna Valdez-China, Leslie Calvillo, and Vargas are also in U.S. custody and will have their court appearance on Tuesday in the District of New Mexico.
According to Jason T. Stevens, the special agent in charge of Immigration Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, human smuggling is a dangerous crime that not only claims lives but also endangers the public.
“We are appreciative of our brave law enforcement partners for their continued vigilance in investigating and apprehending members of transnational criminal organizations who conspire to undermine our nation’s immigration laws for their profit, with a callous and reckless disregard for the sanctity of life,” he said.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin for the District of New Mexico has made a commitment to maintain collaboration with federal, state, and local partners in the ongoing effort to dismantle transnational human smuggling organizations. He emphasizes the importance of holding their leaders accountable and seizing the illicit proceeds generated by these exploitative enterprises.