In a tragic incident, Victor Alfonso Soto Aguilar and Jose Ramon Geraldo Romero pleaded guilty to their roles as operators of a panga boat that attempted to smuggle fourteen Mexican citizens into the United States in open ocean waters, resulting in the death of one passenger.
According to the court proceedings, Soto and Romero admitted to piloting a panga boat loaded with 14 Mexican citizens from Mexico into the United States. They also admitted that the panga boat was overloaded, which caused a temporary engine failure, and when they stopped the boat approximately 80 yards from shore, they instructed all 14 passengers to remove their life jackets and jump into the water without regard to whether any of them knew how to swim.
One passenger, Rogelio Perez Gutierrez, jumped out of the boat, could not stay afloat, and drowned as a result of the smuggling attempt. The other passengers on the panga boat stated they feared for their lives throughout the ocean journey and were paying between $12,000 and $15,000 to be brought into the United States.
“Another life has been tragically lost as a result of smugglers’ reckless actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Smugglers do not care about the safety of their human cargo. They care only about profits, and the U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to bringing them to justice for these callous crimes.”
Soto and Romero are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston on December 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. The case highlights the callous disregard for human life shown by smugglers.
The defendants, Victor Alfonso Soto Aguilar and Jose Ramon Geraldo Romero, admit to the crime of smuggling death, and their sentence will be determined by the court. Mandatory facts include:
Defendant: Victor Alfonso Soto Aguilar
Criminal Charges: Smuggling death
City and State: San Diego, California
Exact Date: August 18, 2021
Sentence or Outcome: Scheduled sentencing on December 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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