Grand jury indicts around a dozen people for human smuggling operation

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A federal grand jury in Las Cruces indicted around a dozen people on charges for allegedly smuggling people across the southern border.

A grand jury returned the indictment Wednesday against the suspects. Prosecutors charged them for their alleged roles in an operation that smuggled people from South and Central America, across the border into the U.S.

Authorities arrested eight of the suspects on Thursday and Friday.

Federal authorities allege the suspects brought the people across the border, transported them within the U.S., and hid them in ‘stash houses’ along the way. The suspects are accused of speeding away from police and instructing immigrants with them on how to avoid Border Patrol. Prosecutors allege they left an immigrant after they died from heat exposure.

“Human smuggling organizations threaten our national security and exploit vulnerable individuals for profit, putting their lives at risk and undermining public safety,” said Holland S. Kastrin, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Mexico is committed to continuing to work with our federal, state and local partners to dismantle transnational human smuggling organizations, hold their leaders accountable, and seize the illicit proceeds generated by these exploitative enterprises.”

These suspects each made their first court appearance and remain in U.S. custody:

• Michelle Martinez, 29, of El Paso, Texas
• Jesus Calvillo, 44, of El Paso
• Jorge Calvillo, 25, of El Paso
• Abel Aguilar-Cano, 53, of Albuquerque
• Jose Palomino, 27, of El Paso

These suspects were scheduled to make their first appearance Tuesday:

• Edna Valdez-China, 48, of El Paso
• Leslie Nicole Calvillo, also known as Leslie Jaramillo, 24, of El Paso
• Melissa Vargas, 22, of El Paso

These suspects also face a charge in this case:

• Jorge Alberto De La Cruz-Dominguez, also known as Guero, 54, of Juarez, Mexico
• Jorge Valdez China, also known as Lolo, 23, of El Paso
• Jonathan Valdez-China, also known as China and Dior, 24, of Juarez
• Alma Guadalupe Valdez-China, 41, of Juarez

Each suspect is charged with “conspiracy to bring to, transport, and harbor illegal aliens in the United States.” A conviction for that charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.