Jose Pastrano-Rios, 53, of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 60 months in prison with three years of supervised release to follow. Pastrano-Rios had previously pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in illegal aliens for profit.
Pastrano-Rios was arrested on May 19, 2017, for guiding a group of nine illegal immigrants, including two unaccompanied minors, into the United States. Agents were able to determine that Pastrano-Rios was known as “El Bigotes” and was a known human smuggler.
Pastrano-Rios was previously identified as a foot guide for groups of illegal immigrants who were smuggled into the United States on three occasions in 2016.