Five Illegals Charged In Alleged Maritime Human Smuggling Attempt That Left Child Dead

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for nan Southern District of California announced charges Tuesday against 5 illegals successful an alleged human smuggling attempt gone incorrect that resulted successful astatine slightest 3 deaths, including a 14-year-old boy from India.

According to nan attorney’s office, witnesses observed an overturned panga vessel astatine a formation successful Del Mar, California, connected Monday. The connection said bystanders and San Diego lifeguards attempted rescue efforts, and rule enforcement officials recovered 3 bodies, including a 14-year-old boy identified successful tribunal records arsenic "P.P.B."

The boy’s mother and begetter and 2 others were rescued and are hospitalized. The begetter is successful a coma. The deceased child’s 10-year-old sister is still "missing astatine sea" and presumed dead.

Two Mexican nationals, Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna, 30, and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva, 36, were arrested astatine nan formation and were charged pinch bringing successful aliens resulting successful decease and bringing successful aliens for financial gain. They look imaginable decease sentences aliases life successful situation and a $250,000 good for nan first complaint and penalties of 10 years successful situation pinch a three-year mandatory minimum and a $250,000 good for nan second.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for nan Southern District of California announced charges Tuesday against 5 forbidden immigrants successful an alleged quality smuggling effort gone incorrect that resulted successful astatine slightest 3 deaths, including a 14-year-old boy from India. (Fox News)

U.S. Border Patrol agents later identified 2 vehicles involved, apprehended nan drivers and recovered 8 of nan remaining 9 migrants missing from nan boat, leaving only nan 10-year-old kid unaccounted for.  

The U.S. attorney’s agency charged nan 3 Mexican nationals caught allegedly transporting nan migrants — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33, Gustavo Lara, 32, and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa, 31 — pinch proscription of forbidden aliens. They look maximum sentences of 10 years successful situation and $500,000 fines.

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Rojas-Fregoso, identified arsenic having antecedently been deported Dec. 19, 2023, is besides facing an further 2 years successful situation and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said "the drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of really small quality traffickers attraction astir nan costs of their deadly business."

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U.S. Border agents patrol nan Pacific Ocean wherever nan U.S.-Mexico separator wall enters nan h2o astatine Border Field State Park successful San Diego Nov. 20, 2018.    (Reuters/Mike Blake)

Shawn Gibson, typical supplier successful complaint of HSI San Diego, said "yesterday's heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of nan urgent request to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed."

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"Human smuggling, sloppy of nan route, is not only forbidden but highly dangerous. Smugglers often dainty group arsenic disposable commodities, starring to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, arsenic we saw successful this case," Gibson said. 

"The HSI, on pinch nan U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and different partners from nan Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths."