A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week against two Mexican men, Juan Manuel Soto-Guzman and Adulfo Soto-Guzman, for conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for profit.
The Department of Justice alleges, in part, that an investigation identified Juan Manuel Soto-Guzman, age 41, as a person involved in a conspiracy to transport undocumented non-citizens (UNCs) for profit. J. Soto-Guzman was identified as a UNC smuggling coordinator, responsible for coordinating the transportation and harboring of UNCs and housing them in Phoenix, Arizona, before coordinating their transportation to their final destinations within the United States.
Adulfo Soto-Guzman, age 45, also was identified as a member of the conspiracy. The complaint alleges that he was responsible for delivering money to other co-conspirators to pay load drivers and finance human smuggling activities within this organization. Many of the UNCs had crossed the border from Mexico, and were transported through Southern Arizona to stash houses in Phoenix, Arizona, as they waited for further transportation within the United States.
During the course of the investigation, agents seized over 20 notebooks containing ledgers detailing human smuggling, cash payments due, and cellphones previously identified as being used by this organization.
A conviction for conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.