Honduras-Based Smuggler ‘La Guera’ Sentenced to 10 Years for Alien Trafficking

Honduras-Based Smuggler ‘La Guera’ Sentenced to 10 Years for Alien Trafficking

TUCSON, ARIZ. – Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, 52, of Honduras, also known as ‘La Guera’, has been sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a massive alien smuggling operation.

Mendoza-Mendoza pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins.

According to the Department of Justice, Mendoza-Mendoza was the leader of a smuggling organization that brought over 100 migrants from Honduras to the United States. The operation used funnel accounts to collect millions of dollars in smuggling fees, and Mendoza-Mendoza would often assess punitive sanctions on those who failed to pay, including threatening to ‘bleed out’ a guide and throwing a migrant ‘back in the desert’ if their family didn’t pay their smuggling fee.

“Today’s sentencing is the latest example of the great work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which we launched nearly three years ago to hold accountable the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling groups,” 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.”

Joint Task Force Alpha, established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021, is a partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security aimed at disrupting and dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks. The Task Force has achieved over 240 convictions to date, and Mendoza-Mendoza’s case is the latest example of its success.

Mendoza-Mendoza was extradited from Honduras to the United States in June 2023, and her sentence reflects the severity of her crimes. “This defendant participated in over 100 smuggling operations, all for profit,” said Fransisco B. Burrola, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Human smugglers prey on vulnerable people, putting their lives at risk, and threatening the safety of our communities and national security.”

The prosecution of Mendoza-Mendoza is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies working together to combat human trafficking. “Cooperation and collaboration are key tools in protecting America from the reach of international human smuggling organizations,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We thank Honduras for its willingness to extradite, and the various local agencies who interdicted migrants and helped us make the connection to a larger organization.”

Mendoza-Mendoza’s case serves as a warning to other smugglers: prison awaits those who engage in these heinous crimes. The sentencing of ‘La Guera’ is a victory for justice and a reminder that those who exploit and endanger vulnerable migrants will be held accountable.