Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Steven Beltran-Lugo, a 19-year-old from Glendale, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez. The sentencing took place on March 11, 2025, and relates to an incident in March 2024 where Beltran-Lugo was involved in transporting two illegal aliens. During the event, one of the individuals sustained fatal injuries after jumping out of a moving vehicle.
Beltran-Lugo had pleaded guilty on October 1, 2024, to charges of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person and Resulting in Death. The incident occurred on March 6, 2024, when Beltran-Lugo and co-defendant Cesar Velazquez-Munoz picked up two illegal aliens near the border for further transport into the United States. Beltran-Lugo was a passenger and maintained contact with a smuggling coordinator based in Phoenix during the operation.
When law enforcement began pursuing their vehicle, instructions were given for the victims to exit. One victim jumped from the vehicle while it was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour. As the second victim exited, they suffered severe injuries leading to death two days later due to brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding. Velazquez-Munoz is scheduled for sentencing on March 31, 2025.
The case is part of efforts by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which targets human smuggling and trafficking networks operating across several countries including Mexico and Central America. JTFA involves collaboration between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border and various components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division with support from DHS, FBI, DEA among others.
Homeland Security Investigations led this particular investigation while prosecution was managed by the United States Attorney’s Office in Tucson within Arizona's District.
