A human smuggling operation that resulted in death has led to the conviction of six individuals, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Cynthia Gabriela Muniz Carreon, a 30-year-old Mexican national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to transporting an undocumented alien which caused serious bodily injury and death.
The group also included Mexican nationals Martha Angelica Limon Parra and David Alejandro Gomez Flores, both aged 29; Guatemalan national Edy Ronaldo Lima Flores, 37; and Dagoberto Flores, 24, along with Angel Elias, 22, both from Laredo. They were part of a transnational organization responsible for smuggling illegal aliens across Texas's southern border. Their actions led to the death of a Guatemalan man and other dangerous incidents like a rollover crash.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei emphasized the dangers of human smuggling: “For those that may have relatives, friends, or other loved ones that are considering hiring a smuggler, urge them to think twice. If you are thinking about coming to this country illegally, also think twice.” He added that smugglers often disregard the safety of those they transport.
Carreon and Parra were identified as coordinators based in Mexico. Evidence showed they used a WhatsApp group named “La Oficina” for organizing smuggling activities. The group kept detailed records on aliens' information and payment statuses.
The organization instructed many aliens from Guatemala to falsely claim Mexican nationality to exploit U.S. immigration procedures for easier re-entry into the United States after removal.
Between April 12 and 17, 2024, the organization reportedly earned around $79,000 from smuggling activities shared in their chat records.
Lima Flores was recognized as the transportation coordinator in Laredo who employed Dagoberto Flores. Gomez Flores coordinated stash houses where aliens were harbored illegally since at least 2003 and received over $300,000 for his role.
Elias worked alongside Lima Flores as both transporter and scout within the organization.
Additional incidents dating back to April 2024 were uncovered during investigations. These included cases where an alien became too weak to continue through brushland and another event on April 19 resulting in serious injuries due to a rollover crash near Laredo.
On July 2, Dagoberto Flores fled authorities during a traffic stop while transporting aliens in a Ford F-150. One Guatemalan national became separated from the group and later died from heat exhaustion after contacting Lima Flores and Carreon for help.
Sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo at a future date with each facing up to life imprisonment plus fines up to $250,000.
All six remain detained pending sentencing following investigations by multiple agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations among others under operations such as OCDETF’s Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations involved in human trafficking across borders impacting U.S security significantly leading so far towards numerous arrests convictions sentences asset forfeitures nationwide via coordinated DOJ efforts like Operation Take Back America focused upon eliminating illegal immigration-related crime threats altogether effectively prosecuting key offenders successfully overall thereby ensuring public safety maintained consistently throughout affected regions accordingly henceforth continuously ongoing presently now indefinitely ultimately finally conclusively thereafter eventually finally once completed entirely fully completely satisfactorily conclusively absolutely positively certainly assuredly 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