Federal prosecutors said the operation moved people through Sunland Park, El Paso and Albuquerque, including an unaccompanied minor

Organ Mountain News report

ALBUQUERQUE - A federal jury convicted an El Paso man accused of coordinating a migrant smuggling operation that transported people through southern New Mexico and Texas, including an unaccompanied minor.

Federal prosecutors said Juan Gomez Montiel, 32, was convicted after a three-day trial on charges including conspiracy to bring in and transport undocumented migrants, bringing in an undocumented migrant for financial gain and transporting an undocumented migrant.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, prosecutors said Gomez Montiel coordinated the smuggling of a material witness from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, into the United States in March 2024 for $2,200.

Prosecutors said Gomez Montiel arranged for the witness to work with a Juárez-based smuggler known as “Polo,” who transported the witness to a stash house in Juárez before guiding the witness to a hole cut into the border fence near Cristo Rey in Sunland Park.

After the witness crossed into the United States on April 5, 2024, prosecutors said the witness was taken to a tire shop in El Paso where Gomez Montiel allegedly met them, asked whether the trip had gone smoothly and paid the foot guide involved in the operation.

Evidence presented at trial also showed Gomez Montiel later contacted the witness seeking payment of an additional $500 smuggling fee, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors also alleged that in August 2024, Gomez Montiel coordinated transportation for an unaccompanied minor from a stash house in El Paso to Albuquerque using a driver who was actually an undercover Texas Department of Public Safety agent.

Following the verdict, the court ordered Gomez Montiel detained pending sentencing. Prosecutors said he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and up to 10 years if sentenced on all counts.

Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.