DEL RIO, Texas — A South Texas woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison for one count of wire fraud in order to smuggle migrants into the United States. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Kimberly Cruz, 35, was sentenced on June 17 to 168 months in prison for one count of wire fraud. Chief Judge Alia Moses also ordered Cruz to pay $9,900 in restitution and forfeit more than $271,000. Cruz was arrested Oct. 29, 2019, and pleaded guilty Oct. 25, 2021.
“The message is clear — have no doubt. Individuals who impersonate a legal advocate to exploit others for their own personal gain will be held accountable for their crimes,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI is committed to bringing to justice human smugglers that prey on the vulnerable with no regard for the well-being of the people they smuggle.”
According to court documents, Cruz orchestrated a scheme in which she misrepresented herself as a legal advocate in order to smuggle migrants into the United States. Between April and October 2019, she convinced multiple migrants and their families that she was an attorney, collecting identity documents such as birth certificates, voter identifications, passport cards and more from them. In return for the services Cruz promised, migrants deposited a total of $275,911 into her personal accounts.
Using the packets of documents that the migrants had provided her, Cruz misrepresented herself to officers at the Eagle Pass Point of Entry, indicating that the migrants required humanitarian paroles and were permitted to enter the United States for 24 to 48 hours for the purpose of attending U.S. Customs and Immigration Services appointments. Cruz then transported the migrants to San Antonio, where she delivered them to family members or dropped them off at the airport or a bus station.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.
“This defendant falsely represented herself in order to take advantage of our country’s immigration procedures while putting at risk the lives of more than 95 migrants,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Jaime Esparza. “I am grateful for the diligent efforts of Homeland Security Investigations in uncovering Cruz’s extensive criminal conduct, and I assure you that my office stands ready to work with all our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who attempt to circumvent the law.”
HSI San Antonio continues to address the serious public safety threat posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of the people they exploit. To report suspicious activity, call the HSI Tip Line at 877-HSI-4-TIP.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.