Sergio Josue Palomera, a 23-year-old resident of Chula Vista, admitted in federal court to his involvement in a tragic incident linked to alien smuggling. In his plea agreement, Palomera confessed to transporting two undocumented individuals, a man and a woman, who perished following a high-speed crash on October 22, 2024.
The sequence of events began near the U.S.–Mexico border in Otay Mesa when Border Patrol agents using remote surveillance observed the loading of the individuals into Palomera’s vehicle. The car was seen moving west on State Route 905, prompting a Border Patrol agent to activate lights and sirens in an attempt to pull the vehicle over.
The plea details that Palomera initially acted as if he would comply by slowing down and moving toward a highway offramp. However, he then accelerated, ran a red light, and re-entered the highway, reaching speeds over 110 mph in a 65-mph zone. Shortly thereafter, Palomera lost control of the vehicle, which rolled over. The woman, ejected from the car, died at the scene, while the man succumbed to his injuries later at the hospital.
Palomera is scheduled for sentencing on July 2, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson. This case is under the prosecution of Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett.
The charges against Palomera include "Transportation of Certain Aliens Resulting in Death" under Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and (B)(iv). The maximum penalty for these charges is either death or life imprisonment, along with a potential fine up to $250,000.
The United States Border Patrol is the investigating agency in this case.
