Federal agents have shut down a massive human smuggling operation based in California, believed to be responsible for trafficking thousands of illegal aliens into America.
Two Guatemalan nationals were arrested and accused of running one of the largest human smuggling rings in the United States.
The two were picked up near downtown Los Angeles and are accused of moving 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Guatemala since 2019.
Authorities named the two suspects as Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj.
Renoj-Matul, the operation’s ringleader, is accused of moving illegal aliens into the U.S. from Guatemala for up to $18,000 per person
Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj each appeared in federal court hours after their arrests.
A judge ordered each suspect held without bond.
If convicted, they could each face the death penalty.
In a statement, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally said:
“These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills.
“The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country’s largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations.
“This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences.”
Two other men are also charged in the case: Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj and Helmer Obispo-Hernandez.
Paxtor-Oxlaj is behind bars in Oklahoma for his role in a 2023 car crash that killed seven migrants, including five from the same family.
Obispo-Hernandez is described as a “lieutenant” in the smuggling operation.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco said:
“Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors.
“HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations, so no further lives are lost, and our borders are secure.”
Prosecutors allege Renoj-Matul, who goes by the name Turko, was the ringleader of the California wing of the international operation.
He was working with counterparts in Guatemala who would charge migrants $15,000 to $18,000 for safe passage to the United States.
Once here, the migrants were then charged again for additional transport across the country.
Renoj-Matul’s indictment alleges migrants under his direction were moved to at least 20 states and Washington, D.C.
It is believed that migrants who did not pay were held hostage in a stash house.
The property was in the same Los Angeles neighborhood where Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj were arrested.
In one incident last year, prosecutors alleged Renoj-Matul called the mother of a migrant he was holding hostage and threatened that she “would come home in a box” if her smuggling fees were not paid.
Obispo-Hernandez remains at large.
He faces additional charges for threatening to behead a Homeland Security Investigations officer who served a search warrant at his house on Friday.
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