The leader of a migrant smuggling organization was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 migrants from Honduras to the United States for profit.
“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,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “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.”
“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,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “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.”
“Cooperation and collaboration are key tools in protecting America from the reach of international human smuggling organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We thank Honduras for its willingness to extradite, the various local agencies who interdicted migrants and helped us make the connection to a larger organization, and all of the JTFA partners for dismantling a smuggling network.”
According to court documents, Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, also known as La Guera, 52, of Honduras, coordinated the movement of migrants from Honduras to the U.S.-Mexico border and operated stash houses in Phoenix, Arizona. The migrants were detained until their smuggling fees were paid. The organization utilized funnel accounts to collect millions of dollars in fees. Mendoza-Mendoza exercised authority within her organization by threatening severe punishments—she threatened to “bleed out” a guide as punishment and demanded that a migrant whose family did not pay his fee be thrown “back in the desert.”
“Human smuggling is an insidious crime and one that this defendant participated in over 100 times—all for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “Human smugglers do nothing but prey on vulnerable people who at times pay with their lives while crossing the border. Smugglers endanger and exploit people by using dangerous networks that threaten community safety; HSI is committed to combating this type of cross-border crime along with partner law enforcement agencies. Let this sentencing serve as a warning—prison awaits you.”
Mendoza-Mendoza was indicted in January 2018 and extradited from Honduras to the United States in June 2023. She pleaded guilty on Jan. 24 to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit.
This prosecution resulted from JTFA's coordinated efforts established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 with DHS partnership aimed at enhancing U.S enforcement against prolific human smuggling groups operating primarily out of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Since its inception, JTFA has achieved significant results including 305 arrests against leaders or significant facilitators; 242 U.S convictions; substantial asset seizures including cash property vehicles firearms ammunition drugs; multiple indictments successful extradition requests targeting foreign leadership figures.
HSI Sells Office investigated this case significantly aided by U.S Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector various state local law enforcement nationwide Justice Department’s Office International Affairs partnered Honduran authorities securing arrest extradition Mendoza-Mendoza US Marshals Service assisted extradition efforts.
The U.S Attorney’s Office District Arizona prosecuted case.