Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, the leader of a migrant smuggling operation, was indicted in 2018 and pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit on January 24.
According to a news release announcing the sentencing, Mendoza-Mendoza, also known as La Guera, 52, played a role in smuggling more than 100 migrants into the United States. "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. 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," said Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security.
Mendoza-Mendoza was responsible for coordinating migrant movements from Honduras to the United States’ border with Mexico. From there, she coordinated their moves to stash houses in Phoenix where they stayed until smuggling fees for their entry into the US were paid. "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. 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," said Merrick Garland, US Attorney General.
The work of JTFA led to this prosecution. The task force is part of an effort to enhance US enforcement efforts against prolific human trafficking and smuggling groups in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
