Northern Border Alien Smuggler Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Young Children in Transnational Human Smuggling and Money Laundering Scheme

Jesus Hernandez Ortiz, 38, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today in the District of Vermont to one count of conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and one count of illegally bringing at least one alien to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain.

Hernandez Ortiz and a co-defendant, Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado, were charged on Jan. 29. According to court documents, as early as September 2023, Hernandez Ortiz was added to an encrypted chat platform that coordinated drivers for long distance trips, including the pick-up of aliens illegally crossing into the United States from Canada. In mid-September 2023, Hernandez Ortiz agreed to such a trip. Hernandez Ortiz rented a commercial van in New Jersey and drove the van to the designated pick-up location in Holland, Vermont, at the assigned time. Hernandez Ortiz's co-conspirators updated him on the exact location and time of the pick-up. Once there, Hernandez Ortiz picked up a group of twelve, including two young children, who had just entered the United States illegally. Hernandez Ortiz expected payment of $400 per alien ($4,800 total) upon arrival in New York City.

"The defendant joined a sophisticated illegal alien smuggling network, which spanned at least three continents, and even smuggled young children," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Smuggling illegal aliens over our borders - whether southern or northern - puts both aliens and the American people at risk and violates the sanctity of our laws and our national security. The Department of Justice will continue to aggressively prosecute alien smugglers to enforce our criminal laws against illegal immigration and keep the American people safe."

"The northern border is incredibly dangerous and anyone encouraging or facilitating the smuggling of aliens, especially children, across the border in these remote locations is putting lives at risk," said Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director Matthew Millhollin of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). "Hernandez Ortiz has admitted to smuggling aliens for profit and now he's facing real prison time. HSI and our law enforcement partners are using intelligence-focused investigations to secure our borders and stop alien smugglers in their tracks."

The Swanton Sector Intelligence Unit assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol Newport Station and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Office led U.S. investigative efforts, with assistance from HSI's Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP's National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.

Trial Attorneys Jake Drucker and Emily Cohen of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles for the District of Vermont are prosecuting the case.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF's Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.

The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department's lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA's mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA's work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.