WASHINGTON – The leader of a migrant smuggling organization was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for her role in smuggling over 100 migrants from Honduras to the United States for profit.
“Today’s sentencing again highlights the extraordinary work being done by our Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel who, day in and day out, are relentless in their mission to disrupt and dismantle dangerous smuggling operations and to secure our border,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This sentencing is a testament to the partnership and collaboration this Administration has strengthened across the federal enterprise, and with our allies in countries such as Honduras and Mexico, to crack down on criminal organizations. We will continue our work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to attack the ruthless smuggling operations that prey on the vulnerable and cause so much death and trauma.”
“Today’s sentencing is the latest example of the great work of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which we launched nearly three years ago to hold accountable the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling groups, and which has obtained more than 240 convictions to date,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant exploited vulnerable migrants for her own profit, risking their lives and our national security in the process. Together with our partners across the federal government, the Justice Department will continue our efforts to dismantle and disrupt human smuggling networks like those the defendant operated.”
“Cooperation and collaboration are key tools in protecting America from the reach of international human smuggling organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We thank Honduras for its willingness to extradite, the various local agencies who interdicted migrants and helped us make the connection to a larger organization, and all of the JTFA partners for dismantling a smuggling network.”
Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, also known as La Guera, 52, of Honduras, coordinated the movement of migrants from Honduras to the U.S.-Mexico border and to stash houses in Phoenix, Arizona, where the migrants were detained until their smuggling fees were paid. The organization used funnel accounts to collect millions in smuggling fees. Mendoza-Mendoza threatened violence and harsh punishments for non-payment of fees, including throwing migrants back into the desert.
“Human smuggling is an insidious crime and one that this defendant participated in over 100 times—all for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “Human smugglers do nothing but prey on vulnerable people who at times pay with their lives while crossing the border. Smugglers endanger and exploit people by using dangerous networks that threaten the safety of our communities and our national security; HSI is committed to combatting this type of cross-border crime along with our partner law enforcement agencies. Let this sentencing serve as a warning to other smugglers contemplating their continued participation—prison awaits you.”
Mendoza-Mendoza was indicted in January 2018 and extradited from Honduras to the United States in June 2023. She pleaded guilty on Jan. 24 to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit.
This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of JTFA, established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to enhance U.S. enforcement against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Since its creation, JTFA has achieved significant results, including 305 arrests, 242 U.S. convictions, and 175 defendants sentenced.
HSI Sells Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted with the arrest and extradition of Mendoza-Mendoza. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.–News Desk