Jose Soto-Perez, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death, New Mexico 2024

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – In a disturbing case of human smuggling, two men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy that resulted in the death of a migrant.

Jose Soto-Perez and Marco Olvera-Aguilar were each sentenced to 36 months of incarceration for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. The incident occurred on April 9, 2024, when the defendants led a group of migrants across active railroad tracks near the U.S.-Mexico border, where one individual was struck and killed by a train.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at repelling the invasion of illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime.

The defendants’ actions were a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The case highlights the importance of enhanced enforcement at the border and in the interior of the district in preventing such tragedies.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

In a separate case, a Guatemalan citizen, no name provided, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States on July 23, 2024. The defendant, who had previously been convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 14, is a stark example of the dangers of reentry and the importance of public safety.

This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for the period ending April 11, 2025. The office brought charges against 105 individuals for various immigration-related offenses, including 63 individuals charged with illegal reentry after deportation, 4 individuals charged with alien smuggling, and 38 individuals charged with illegal entry.

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