Four Mexican nationals living unlawfully in the United States have been charged in connection with an international human smuggling conspiracy. This group allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of aliens from Canada into the United States. Edgar Sanchez-Solis, aged 23, Ignacio Diaz-Perez, aged 35, Samuel Diaz-Perez, aged 26, and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, aged 32, are charged with conspiring to bring aliens into the U.S. illegally and 25 counts of doing so for profit. All four individuals have been detained following their arrests across various U.S. locations.
"As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border," stated Matthew R. Galeotti from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
The defendants allegedly ran a smuggling organization that operated over a period of two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. For thousands of dollars paid by aliens or their families, they reportedly facilitated illegal travel from Mexico to Canada and then into northern New York. Numerous incidents involved high-speed chases with law enforcement, endangering public safety.
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III highlighted the case as part of efforts to secure the northern border from criminal activities. The criminal activities ranged from forcing motorists into unsafe chases to risks associated with high-speed getaways from law enforcement.
Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo remarked, "These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each."
Arrests were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), expanded by the Attorney General to tackle human smuggling and trafficking networks. The task force includes partners such as the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and others. To date, over 360 domestic and international arrests have been made, leading to significant convictions and jail sentences.
Galeotti acknowledged the efforts of JTFA and thanked its contributors, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. The prosecution is being handled by Trial Attorney Jenna Reed and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative from the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating cartels and protecting communities from violent crime. It coordinates efforts to combat illegal immigration.
An indictment is simply an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.