Feds disrupt jet ski powered human smuggling network

Federal authorities busted a human smuggling operation powered by jet skis along the California coast.

Nineteen alleged members of a human smuggling organization were charged for coordinating the smuggling of dozens of unauthorized migrants into the United States from Mexico, mostly aboard personal watercraft on the Pacific Ocean.

Nine of the 19 are in custody. A grand jury returned an indictment against 14 members and a complaint was filed against an additional five, according to the Justice Department.

The nine arrested defendants were picked up at ports in San Diego during a multi-agency enforcement effort last week; the remaining defendants are fugitives.

Federal agents served court-authorized search warrants at suspected San Diego and Los Angeles stash houses. Agents seized over $100,000 in U.S. currency and two boxes of ammunition, in addition to more than $120,000 seized during the investigation.

"Human smuggling cases are a top priority because lives are at stake," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California said. "Whether racing a jet ski up the coast without lifejackets or hauling a tractor trailer packed with people, smugglers expose vulnerable migrants to extreme danger and prioritize profit over human life."

The group took part in a long-running conspiracy to bring people from Mexico into the United States by land and sea. The group arranged for transport from Mexico by personal watercraft to coastal areas such as Sunset Cliffs, Bird Rock in La Jolla, and Imperial Beach, California. The smuggling operations took place at night and in dangerous conditions, according to the indictment and complaint.

Officials said the smugglers favor personal watercraft for their speed and ability to approach shore quickly, allowing rapid drop-offs and escape from authorities.

Group members were sometimes responsible for taking migrants further within the United States, whether driving themselves or coordinating with other drivers, including to Los Angeles; Santa Barbara, California; and Las Vegas, according to court records.

The organization allegedly charged between approximately $7,000 and $16,000 per smuggled person and transported tens of thousands of dollars in profits from San Diego to Mexico, according to court records.

"This indictment serves as notice to those transnational criminal organizations operating along our coastal border that it is only a matter of time before they are brought to justice," San Diego Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel said. "Our focus continues to be on protecting our nation, and we will leverage all available resources to hold these criminals accountable for their actions."

Defendants Edgar Jiminez Macias, 33; Alex Ceja Guzman, 30, also known as Alejandro and Gordo; and Tobias Julian Burgara Gonzalez, 32, all of Tijuana, Mexico, and Junior Zavala Ramirez, 34, also known as JR, of Tecate, Mexico, are in custody. They are charged with conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and bringing in aliens for financial gain and aiding and abetting.

If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Additional defendants Ivan Pulido Jauregui, 49; Manuel Gonzalez Lopez, 26, also known as Tortillero; Jesus Misael Molina Flores, 20; Alexis Adrian Villela Inda, 29; and Mateo Adrian Alduenda Gutierrez, 26, all of Nayarit, Mexico, are also in custody and are charged with conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The names of the remaining defendants were not publicly released.