A Phoenix man, Dinero Devon Washington, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 24 months in prison, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens.
The 46-year-old Washington’s prison sentence is to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
According to the Justice Department, on April 16, 2021, Washington and his co-conspirator, Alina Pablo, approached the fixed Border Patrol checkpoint in Ajo in a Ford F-150. Border Patrol agents noted five other passengers in the vehicle, all wearing camouflaged clothing with backpacks and carpeting on their shoes, indicators of having recently crossed the border between Mexico and the United States. Questioning by agents confirmed that all five passengers were citizens and nationals of Mexico or Guatemala with no permission to enter the United States and had recently been picked up by Washington and Pablo. Subsequent searches of Washington’s cell phone revealed detailed evidence of the planning and logistics of the smuggling effort, including pin drops, maps, and text messages.
Pablo, Washington’s co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to her role in the offense and will be sentenced later this year.