Human smuggler pleads guilty in fatal smuggling event

McALLEN, Texas - A 23-year-old Mexican national has admitted to alien smuggling resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jose Guadalupe Antonio-Arredondo admitted to assisting in the smuggling of an illegal alien July 12, 2024, by acting as a river guide. He guided the illegal alien and a brush guide across the river and to the border wall before he returned to Mexico.

The brush guide and illegal alien continued on and crossed the wall. However, after doing so, the alien had trouble breathing and ultimately collapsed. The brush guide abandoned him in the brush and ran to a nearby house to attempt to conceal herself from law enforcement.

Law enforcement later found the alien and arranged transportation to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased July 17, 2024.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 20. At that time, Antonio-Arredondo faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

"Human smuggling is a dangerous enterprise, one that doesn't care about the lives or well-being of those that are being smuggled," said Ganjei. "The loss of life in this incident is yet another example of why it is so vital to discourage people from risking their lives trying to enter this country illegally."

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.