Luis Fernando Barragan-Palacios, a 29-year-old resident of Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for human smuggling. The sentencing took place on January 9, 2025, with United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier presiding over the case. The court decided against imposing supervised release as Barragan-Palacios is expected to be deported following his imprisonment.
Barragan-Palacios had previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring with others to transport individuals who entered the United States illegally. Court records reveal that between August 2023 and January 2024, he conducted around 30 smuggling trips. During these trips, he transported nearly 100 migrants from the Canadian border into Vermont and then onto the New York City area. He reportedly earned approximately $500,000 from these activities.
In January 2024, authorities apprehended Barragan-Palacios after he engaged in a high-speed chase with a marked Border Patrol vehicle along the Canadian border. The pursuit occurred under wintry road conditions and reached speeds up to 85 mph. At the time of his arrest, six migrants were found lying down in the bed of his rented pickup truck or seated unbelted in the cab.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol in this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Colin Owyang, while Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson represented Barragan-Palacios.