CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — A Phoenix man was sentenced July 16 by a U.S. district judge to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised released for his role in human smuggling. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Tucson Sector of the Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
“This sentencing clearly illustrates the serious consequences faced by those who attempt to make money by coordinating human smuggling activity,” said HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “Those who choose to engage in human smuggling only show a callous disregard for the value of human life. We will not let up our efforts to disrupt and dismantle their illicit pathways and leverage our resources to work together with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice.”
Jesus Alexandro Sanchez-Armenta, 23, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit Feb. 22.
Sanchez-Armenta coordinated and recruited his co-conspirators through social media sites, including Snapchat, to pick up undocumented noncitizens in Southern Arizona and transport them further into the United States for profit. Sanchez-Armenta provided his co-conspirators with instructions on how and where to pick up the undocumented noncitizens. Either he or another member of the conspiracy would provide the co-conspirators with GPS coordinates for where to pick up the undocumented noncitizens and then provide them with transportation routes designed to circumvent detection by law enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona in Phoenix Stuart Zander handled the prosecution.