A ruthless alien smuggling operation in Arizona has been brought to a close, thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement. Otoniel Galindo Vasquez-Lopez, 29, of Bossier, La., was sentenced on March 30, 2015, to 14.5 years in custody and three years of supervised release for his role as the leader of the organization.
Vasquez-Lopez, a Louisiana native, employed and directed money launderers and alien smugglers in Arizona, coordinating transportation and payment with hundreds of aliens and their families from the anonymity of Bossier, La.
A grim reminder of the dangers of alien smuggling is the fact that several individuals who utilized Vasquez-Lopez’s organization lost their lives while in transport to other destinations in the United States. A particularly tragic incident occurred on July 22, 2012, when two illegal aliens transported by Vasquez-Lopez’s alien smugglers were killed in a rollover double-fatality in Holbrook, Ariz.
Additionally, on June 23, 2012, Vasquez-Lopez’s name and telephone number were found in the pocket of a deceased alien who died in the desert near Sells, Ariz., after being left behind by his guides when he could not keep up with his group.
Over 30 other alien smugglers and money launderers in this organization were also arrested, convicted, and sentenced in the District of Arizona.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix.
The prosecution was handled by Kristen Brook, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
The case number for this incident is CR-13-1513-PHX-GMS.
Related Federal Cases
- Carlos Antonio Vasquez, Money Laundering, Arizona 2017 · Louisiana
- Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Arizona 2021 · Louisiana
- Brian Thomas Balda, Cyberstalking and Interstate Stalking, Arizona 2025 · Louisiana
- Brian Thomas Balda, Cyberstalking, Arizona 2025 · Louisiana
- Roger Wade Anderson, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arizona 2024 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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