A foreign national faces criminal charges after a San Diego-based Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) probe uncovered evidence of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of an underage migrant.
Cecilio Jimenez-Bautista, 26, of Mexico, was charged April 6 in federal court with sexually abusing a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor during the three days he and his brother lead her and others across the border from Tijuana, Mexico into the U.S. in June 2022, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced April 11.
“The dangers of human smuggling cannot be overstated," Chad Plantz, HSI San Diego special agent in charge, said in the news release. "According to the complaint, this child entrusted her safety to smugglers. They, in turn, demonstrated that they value profit over human life.”
Jimenez-Bautista and his brother, Alexander Jimenez-Bautista, are accused of guiding the girl and other Mexican nationals through the Otay Mountain Wilderness and entering the U.S. illegally, according to allegations in a grand jury indictment. They took the party on a three-day trek "along remote, rugged and desolate paths" before being captured by U.S. Border Patrol officials close to Otay Lakes Road, the release states.
According to the indictment, Cecilio Jimenez-Bautista regularly kept the girl apart from the group, terrorized her and sexually assaulted her over the course of the three days, the release reports. He ultimately forced her to into having sex with him by exploiting her fear of him, "causing her serious bodily injury," the release states.
Both brothers are accused of working as "Mexican foot guides" for a human smuggling group between June 2022 and February 2023, according to the release.
The HSI-San Diego investigation was supported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, the release reports, and by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA).
"HSI and its law enforcement partners are committed to investigating organizations and individuals involved in the exploitation of migrants,” Plantz said in the news release.
