Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal California Smuggling Incident Resulting in 13 Deaths
A Mexican man pleaded guilty March 21 to organizing a smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 13 migrants when the vehicle in which they were concealed collided with a tractor-trailer after crossing the border into California two years ago.
Jose Cruz Noguez, 49, of Mexicali pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring in illegal immigrants and three counts of doing so for financial gain, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and will be sentenced in June.
According to prosecutors, on March 2, 2021, Noguez organized a smuggling operation—in which two modified sport utility vehicles were used to transport dozens of people. The vehicles were driven through a breach in the international boundary fence near Calexico in Imperial County, California….