Man Receives 15-Year Sentence for Fatal Imperial County Crash and Smuggling Attempt
San Diego, July 15, 2023 - Jose Cruz Noguez was sentenced to 15 years in prison after orchestrating a human smuggling operation that resulted in a tragic crash in Imperial County, claiming the lives of 13 individuals and injuring several others. The sentencing took place today at the San Diego federal court.
Noguez had previously pleaded guilty to charges relating to the incident that occurred on March 2, 2021, near Holtville. The crash transpired when an SUV carrying the victims collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Norrish Road and state Route 115.
During the early hours of that fateful day, two SUVs accessed Interstate 8 through a cut-open section of the border fence near Calexico, traveling westward. Unfortunately, one of the SUVs broke down near Holtville, leading to the arrest of 19 undocumented migrants by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The second SUV was involved in the fatal collision, resulting in the deaths of 12 victims at the crash site and one individual at a hospital. The age range of the deceased victims was between 19 and 53 years old.
Prosecutors revealed that the SUV involved in the crash was carrying a total of 25 people. The vehicle had been modified by removing passenger seats to accommodate more individuals. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Seth Askins described the victims as being "crammed into that vehicle with no seats, no safety restraints, stacked one on top of another from the floor to the ceiling of the vehicle like sardines."
This sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the grave consequences associated with human smuggling operations, emphasizing the importance of safe and legal migration channels. The court's decision aims to deter such illegal activities and protect vulnerable individuals from the dangers they entail.
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