Three New Mexico men charged in alleged human smuggling scheme, witness killing
Three New Mexico men have been charged in a federal superseding indictment tied to an alleged human smuggling scheme and the killing of a witness.
A federal superseding indictment accuses Wilfrido Saenz, Ignacio Jaramillo and Ismael Jaramillo of conspiring to transport unauthorized migrants.
Organ Mountain News report
WASHINGTON - Three New Mexico men have been charged in a federal superseding indictment tied to an alleged human smuggling scheme and the killing of a witness, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
A federal grand jury in the District of New Mexico charged Wilfrido Saenz, 29; Ignacio Jaramillo, 22; and his brother, Ismael Jaramillo, 35, with conspiracy to transport unauthorized migrants, according to the DOJ.
Prosecutors said the alleged conspiracy occurred between June 2021 and April 2024.
Saenz and Ignacio Jaramillo also are charged with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness resulting in death. Prosecutors allege the witness was killed in April 2024 in retaliation for providing law enforcement with information about the alleged smuggling scheme.
“The superseding indictment in this case highlights the dangers associated with human smuggling,” said A. Tysen Duva, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The criminal networks engaging in this do not care about the people they are smuggling. They only care about money and themselves.”
Ryan Ellison, first assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico, said human smuggling operations “fuel violence, exploit vulnerable people, and threaten the safety of communities on both sides of the border.”
“The allegations in this case reflect the ruthless nature of these criminal organizations and the lengths they are willing to go to protect their operations,” Ellison said.
If convicted of conspiracy to transport unauthorized migrants, Saenz, Ignacio Jaramillo and Ismael Jaramillo each face up to five years in prison.
If convicted of conspiracy to retaliate against a witness resulting in death, Saenz and Ignacio Jaramillo face up to life in prison.
Saenz and Ignacio Jaramillo also are charged with two counts each of being felons in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors said Saenz was previously convicted of smuggling, fraudulently obtaining a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia, among other offenses. Ignacio Jaramillo was previously convicted in New Mexico of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer.
If convicted on the firearm charges, Saenz and Ignacio Jaramillo each face up to 15 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Maria Armijo for the District of New Mexico.
The investigation involved Joint Task Force Alpha and the Homeland Security Task Force, with participation from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies.
An indictment is an allegation. The defendants have not been convicted of the charges.
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