SAN ANTONIO — A Texas man who was the driver of the tractor-trailer used to smuggle at least 64 undocumented individuals resulting in the deaths of 47 adults and six children in 2022 entered a plea of guilty Jan. 16 to multiple counts arising from the fatal incident.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case with valuable assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; the San Antonio Fire Department; the San Antonio Police Department; the Marshall Police Department; and the Palestine Police Department.
Homero Zamorano Jr., 48, of Elkhart, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury, and placing lives in jeopardy; one count of transportation of aliens resulting in death; and one count of transportation of aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
Zamorano is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and Sarah Spears for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The HSI San Antonio area of responsibility (AOR) covers more than 500 miles of border with three DSAC locations: Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and San Antonio. Combined, these offices respond to 22 ports of entry (18 land, 3 air and 1 sea), several railroad bridges/yards, seven U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints, and numerous state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies within the AOR.
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 smuggling activity, you are urged to call 866-348-2423.
Learn more about HSI San Antonio’s mission to increase public safety in South Texas communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_SanAntonio.