Kevin Antonio Quevedo-Moncada, Human Smuggling, California 2022

Human Smuggler Sentenced to 51 Months in Fatal Christmas Day Crash

In a shocking display of disregard for human life, 23-year-old Kevin Antonio Quevedo-Moncada, a human smuggler, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in a fatal Christmas Day crash that killed one undocumented immigrant and seriously injured two others.

The tragic incident occurred on December 25, 2021, when Quevedo-Moncada, who was paid $2,000 to smuggle his passengers to Anaheim, attempted to escape Border Patrol agents in his car. He sped into a nearby campground, nearly hitting several Border Patrol cars, and eventually lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a tree and killing one of his passengers.

Quevedo-Moncada's passengers, who were treated as 'disposable cargo,' suffered severe injuries, including a broken jaw, a collapsed lung, eight rib fractures, and injuries to his spleen and kidneys. One of the passengers had to be placed in a medically-induced coma before being stabilized.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo, who imposed the sentence, said, 'Human trafficking is a very serious offense. This case underscores the situation at its worst.' Bencivengo noted that Quevedo-Moncada's failure to stop before the fatal crash, coupled with the 'nature and circumstances,' made the crime much more aggravated.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman condemned Quevedo-Moncada's actions, saying, 'This was an aggravated crime motivated by profit and committed with no regard for human life.' Grossman praised the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California helps lead Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in partnership with the Department of Justice, to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against human smuggling and trafficking.

Defendant: Kevin Antonio Quevedo-Moncada

Criminal Charges: Human Smuggling

City and State: San Diego, California

Exact Date: December 25, 2021

Sentence or Outcome: 51 months in federal prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/human-smuggler-sentenced-51-months-fatal-christmas-day-crash