The United States Attorney’s Office for District of Arizona in Tucson prosecuted the case. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Let there be no question, HSI will investigate anyone involved in this atrocious activity and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Human smugglers are greedy, careless and often violent people. “People who think paying a human smuggler money will keep them out of harm’s way as they journey north are sadly mistaken - case in point. “These sentences are a result of the unwavering commitment and countless hours HSI special agents and our partners spent on investigating these violent human smugglers,” said HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown. Roa-Joachin, Hernandez-Garcia and Calixto-Pegueros sexually coerced or sexually assaulted at least one female noncitizen they were holding at a stash house, which resulted in a sentence enhancement. The HSI investigation revealed that the organization regularly moved hundreds of undocumented noncitizens through the two stash houses, often holding them in overcrowded conditions and not permitting them to leave until their families or sponsors paid the smuggling organization for their release. Agents seized firearms, cash and ledgers detailing smuggling activities. On April 22, 2021, HSI agents executed a search warrant at two human smuggling stash houses in Phoenix and apprehended Roa-Joachin, Hernandez-Garcia, Calixto-Pegueros and Mejia-Zamora, along with over 30 undocumented noncitizens. Rafael Hernandez-Garcia, 35, of Mexico, was also sentenced to 78 months in federal prison Luis Alberto Calixto-Pegueros, 25, and Alexis Mejia-Zamora, 26, both of Mexico, were sentenced to 37 months and 27 months, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Phoenix Police Department investigated the case.Īngelico Roa-Joachin, 43, of Mexico, was convicted of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for profit and reentry of a removed alien.Ī federal judge sentenced three of Roa-Joachin’s co-conspirators in 2022. A Mexican national, the final defendant involved in a human smuggling stash house case, was sentenced April 21 to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
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