Smuggling Operation Ends in Tragedy: Jose Cruz Noguez gets 15 years in prison for setting up smuggling trip that killed 13 People in California
A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a federal judge for orchestrating a smuggling operation that resulted in a deadly crash in California's desert town.
Jose Cruz Noguez pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, in which a Ford Expedition carrying two dozen migrants crashed into a tractor-trailer, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals.
The crash, which occurred near Holtville in March 2021, was one of the deadliest highway accidents involving smuggled migrants entering the United States.
Prosecutors revealed that Cruz Noguez not only coordinated the smuggling trip but also attempted to collect payment from the survivors.
Jose Cruz Noguez
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman condemned Cruz Noguez's actions, describing them as callous and inhumane.
The defendant had the Ford Expedition and a GMC Yukon modified by removing passenger seats to accommodate more individuals.
He then drove the vehicles across the Mexican border into California, ensuring they avoided law enforcement. The Ford Expedition was packed with at least 24 people, while the GMC Yukon carried 19 others.
After crossing the border, the Yukon caught fire, prompting the driver to flee. Meanwhile, the Ford Expedition continued its journey on Interstate 8, eventually colliding with a tractor-trailer near Holtville.
The devastating crash led to the deaths of 13 individuals.
The Crash Site
Rescuers discovered some survivors trapped inside the mangled SUV, while others were found wandering in nearby fields. The collision left the tractor-trailer with significant damage and two empty trailers jackknifed behind it.
The passengers involved in the smuggling attempt ranged in age from 15 to 53. Survivors sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe, including fractures and head trauma.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 68-year-old from El Centro, California, suffered moderate injuries.
The crash took place at an intersection just outside Holtville, a community located approximately 11 miles north of the border.
The SUV pulled in front of the tractor-trailer from a road with a stop sign, leading to the collision.
The area where the crash occurred had become a common route for illegal border crossings in the late 1990s due to increased enforcement efforts in San Diego.
Nearby, there is a cemetery with rows of unmarked bricks, serving as a burial ground for migrants who lost their lives while crossing the border.
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