Sharnesia Latrice Cooley, a 31-year-old resident of Tucson, Arizona, has been sentenced to five years in prison for her involvement in transporting undocumented immigrants for profit. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash following Cooley's conviction on November 1, 2024.
The incident occurred on February 2, 2024, near Naco. A United States Border Patrol camera operator noticed four suspected undocumented individuals approaching a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Another agent observed the group entering the vehicle. When stopped by Border Patrol agents, the vehicle was found to contain only Cooley as the driver, her two-year-old son, and co-defendant Mariana Garcia-Tapia. A search of the area led to the discovery of four injured individuals along the road east of the San Pedro Bridge, injuries suggesting they had jumped from a moving vehicle. It was confirmed that these individuals were illegally present in the United States and had paid to be smuggled into the country.
Garcia-Tapia admitted guilt on July 10, 2024, to charges related to conspiracy and endangering lives during transportation for profit. She received a similar five-year sentence with an additional year added for breaching conditions of supervised release in another case.
The investigation was carried out by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Renee Quezada and Caroline Allen managed the prosecution.
For further details about activities within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona or updates via their social media presence on X @USAO_AZ are available online.