Martin Garcia-Velazquez, Human Smuggling, Arizona 2023

A human smuggling ring leader has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 mandatory special assessment.

Martin Garcia-Velazquez, 42, of San Antonio, Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 90 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for his leadership role in a criminal conspiracy to transport and harbor at least 1,000 undocumented noncitizens over several years.

Garcia-Velazquez, also known as Jorge Espino-Garcia and by the nickname “Tucan,” admitted that he organized the transportation of undocumented noncitizens from the Mexico border to houses in and around Phoenix.

As a result of their multi-year investigation, HSI agents seized and forfeited from organization members over $1 million; five firearms, including an SKS 7.62 x 39mm semi-automatic rifle, with accompanying magazines and ammunition; and five vehicles.

Garcia-Velazquez’s co-conspirators were previously sentenced. Jesus Torres-Aguilera pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. Judge Rash sentenced him on October 24, 2023, to a prison term of time served, equivalent to approximately 23 months, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.

Elmer Rene Del Cid Santos pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. Judge Rash also sentenced him on October 24, 2023, to 18 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. A third individual, Angelico Roa-Joachin, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien. United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps sentenced Roa-Joachin to 78 months in prison.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

This prosecution also resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

Homeland Security Investigations - Douglas conducted the investigation in this case with assistance from the Homeland Security Investigations offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, Huntsville, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol; the Drug Enforcement Administration in Sierra Vista; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Clayton County Police Department, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/human-smuggling-investigation-results-seizure-over-1-million-and-90-months-prison