The Grimy Times has learned that Lydiana Castro, a 31-year-old woman from Calexico, California, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for her role in a deadly alien smuggling operation.
On March 23, 2016, Castro was driving a vehicle carrying five undocumented aliens when she was pulled over by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Instead of stopping, Castro sped away, causing a crash that resulted in the deaths of two of the passengers and left one brain dead and another permanently paralyzed.
The incident occurred in a mountainous area near Andrade, California, where Castro had picked up the aliens from a gas station. Border Patrol agents had activated their lights and sirens, but Castro refused to stop, leading to the devastating crash on Interstate 8.
The survivors of the crash were transported to a trauma hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, where one was declared brain dead and transported back to Mexico on life support. The other two passengers were left with severe injuries, including one who lost the use of both legs.
Castro pleaded guilty in July 2016 to charges of transportation of certain aliens and aiding and abetting. She faced a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to five years.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol. Castro’s sentence is a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of alien smuggling, an operation that puts the lives of countless individuals at risk.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara A. Stingley and Brandon J. Kimura are available for further information at (619)546-8403 and (619) 546-9614, respectively.
Related Federal Cases
- Nine Previously Deported Aliens Indicted in Alien Smuggling Scheme · Minnesota
- Jorge Castenada, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2012 · New York
- Jose Alberto Izquierdo-Gonzalez, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2013 · New York
- Alien Smuggler Sentenced to 8 Years for Crash that Killed 2, Injured 3 · New York
- Rajinder Pal Singh, Smuggling Indian Nationals, Seattle WA, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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