Key Leader in Texas Human Smuggling Organization Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison

DEL RIO, Texas - A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 480 months in prison for illegal alien transportation resulting in death.

According to court documents, Nicolas Mondragon-Gonzalez, aka "Chayo" and "Flaco," 36, of Luvianos, Mexico, was a leader and orchestrator of a human smuggling organization (HSO). Mondragon-Gonzalez had hired Sebastian Tovar, a driver who was sentenced in August 2023 to 420 months in prison for his role in the operation. Tovar had been transporting nine undocumented noncitizens when he led a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on a pursuit and collided with another vehicle in the oncoming traffic lane. Eight of the nine passengers in Tovar's vehicle were killed, while the two occupants of the other vehicle were seriously injured. Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered a second smuggling vehicle carrying undocumented noncitizens. The driver stopped and the occupants fled on foot. USBP agents were able to locate them.

Mondragon-Gonzalez was arrested Sept. 28, 2021. He pleaded guilty to four counts January 10, 2022: one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, one count of illegal alien transportation resulting in death, and two counts of transportation of illegal aliens.

"The result in this case is a testament to this office's commitment to seek justice for our community members," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. "It reflects the hard work and interagency cooperation of our federal and state law enforcement partners, whose efforts brought this case to a successful conclusion."

"This defendant will spend the next 40 years in federal prison for his actions," said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. "Human smuggling is dangerous but as this case demonstrates, it's also deadly. HSI will not stop investigating and bringing smugglers to face justice. There can be no safe haven for smugglers who evade our nations laws, endangering our communities and causing deaths."

Codefendant Ruben Junior Rodriguez-Jaimes, a foot guide, was sentenced in August 2023 to 180 months in prison. Rogelio Manuel Luna was sentenced in June 2024 to 108 months in prison with credit for time served. Jennifer Oralia Davis, aka "Paypa," was sentenced in September 2023 to 151 months in prison with credit for time served.

Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in 2023 to one count of illegal alien transportation resulting in death: Lauren Michelle Malmquist aka "Mama" and "Lala," Veronica Torres-Mendez, and Eduardo Rivera Benitez aka "Lalo" and "Casper," each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Jose Eli Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Another individual indicted in the case, Marco Antonio Hernandez aka "Temo," was arrested on June 27 in Houston. Hernandez had previously been sentenced on Oct. 11, 2023 to 24 months in prison with credit for time served.

HSI, USBP and DPS investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Travis County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.

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