Michael Lopez-Loreto, Alien Smuggling, Arizona 2023

A 22-year-old Tucson man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in alien smuggling.

Michael Lopez-Loreto was sentenced by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Lopez-Loreto pleaded guilty on February 9, 2023, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.

On January 17, 2023, Lopez-Loreto was encountered by United States Border Patrol agents after a property owner reported a vehicle on their property.

Agents subsequently observed individuals run from the desert and enter the vehicle that was being driven by Lopez-Loreto.

Lopez-Loreto then drove toward an area where the roadway was blocked by agents, narrowly missing striking agents who were standing outside their vehicles.

The two passengers in Lopez-Loreto’s vehicle suffered injuries in the crash and were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case.

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/tucson-man-sentenced-30-months-alien-smuggling