A Mexican alien smuggling guide was sentenced to 10 years in prison on July 2 after leaving a border crosser to die in southern Arizona while transporting illegal migrants into the United States.
Evidence showed that Mr. Dessens-Romero was the human smuggling foot guide for five Mexican nationals who illegally crossed into the United States on Feb. 13, 2021, according to the release.
Mr. Dessens-Romero led the group—which included three sisters and their 16-year-old family friend—into the rugged Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, with limited food and water.
They suffered through cold weather and snow during the journey. On Feb. 15, 2021, one of the sisters experienced significant physical distress, which left her unable to eat, walk, or follow simple commands.
Mr. Dessens-Romero told the group that if they left the 23-year-old woman behind, she could be found since they were already close enough to a traveled roadway. He did not call emergency services, but rather a “transnational criminal smuggling organization,” the DOJ said.
The defendant then guided the rest of the group to Sierra Vista, where they were picked up by his co-conspirators and transported further into the United States.
The family of the 23-year-old woman reported her missing on Feb. 16, 2021. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol and military officials from Fort Huachuca, then launched a search but didn’t find her.
The DOJ alleged that Mr. Dessens-Romero, on behalf of the smuggling organization, later attempted to convince the woman’s sisters to remove a social media post about her disappearance.
On Nov. 20, 2021, members of the non-profit organization SOS Busqueda y Rescate located skeletal remains in an isolated area of the Huachuca Mountains, which were later identified as belonging to the missing woman through dental records.
Mr. Dessens-Romero was arrested on June, 30, 2021, by Tennessee Highway Patrol while transporting two migrants into the United States.
“Unfortunately, one young woman’s desire for a better life in the United States cost her life due to the greed and recklessness of Dessens-Romero,” U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino said in a statement. “This case should serve as a warning to other smugglers and the transnational smuggling organizations they work for: my office and our law enforcement partners will be undaunted in our efforts to bring you to justice.”
According to the DOJ, there have been 313 arrests of leaders, organizers, and facilitators of human smuggling since Attorney General Merrick Garland established the Joint Task Force Alpha in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security in June 2021.
