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Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero Sentenced to 120 Months for Human Smuggling in Arizona
A 28-year-old Mexican citizen has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in a dangerous human smuggling conspiracy in Arizona.
Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Hinderaker for the District of Arizona. In November 2023, Dessens-Romero was found guilty of multiple alien smuggling offenses by a jury, including conspiracy to transport and transportation of illegal aliens for profit and bringing in illegal aliens to the United States for profit.
The jury also found that Dessens-Romero placed human life in jeopardy during and in relation to these offenses. ‘Human smugglers profit from the exploitation of migrants and routinely expose them to violence, injury, and death,’ said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. ‘Today’s sentence shows the Justice Department will continue to hold accountable these smugglers and the criminal networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants.’
Evidence presented at trial established that Dessens-Romero was the human smuggling foot guide for five Mexican nationals who illegally crossed into the United States on or about February 13, 2021. The group included three sisters – ages 23, 20, and 17 – and their family friend, age 16. Dessens-Romero led the individuals under his care into the rugged and remote Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona.
He led the group on this perilous route due to less law enforcement presence. The group had limited food and water, and at night, suffered through serious weather conditions including freezing temperatures and snow. By February 15, 2021, the 23-year-old sister was in significant physical distress. She was unable to eat, walk, or follow simple commands.
Dessens-Romero told the group that they were close enough to a traveled roadway where the sick woman could be found if the group left her behind. Dessens-Romero did not call emergency services. Instead, he located cell phone reception at higher ground to call a transnational criminal smuggling organization. Dessens-Romero then led the rest of the group to Sierra Vista where they were picked up by unidentified co-conspirators and transported further into the United States.
The family of the woman left behind contacted authorities on February 16, 2021, to report a missing person. Despite extensive search efforts by U.S. Border Patrol, military officials from Fort Huachuca, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), she was not located. During this time, Dessens-Romero contacted the surviving sisters on behalf of the smuggling organization to try to convince them to remove a ‘missing person’ social media post.
In the months following, HSI worked collaboratively with SOS Búsqueda y Rescate, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding missing migrants, to continue searching for the missing woman. On November 20, 2021, members of SOS Búsqueda y Rescate located skeletal remains in an isolated area of the Huachuca Mountains, on Fort Huachuca property. Dental records confirmed that the remains belonged to the missing 23-year-old sister.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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