Human Smuggling Coordinator Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Jesus Alexandro Sanchez-Armenta, 23, of Phoenix, was sentenced last month by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 72 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised released. Sanchez-Armenta pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit on February 22, 2024.

Sanchez-Armenta coordinated and/or recruited his co-conspirators, through social media sites, including Snapchat, to pick up undocumented noncitizens (UNCs) in Southern Arizona and to transport them further into the United States for profit. Sanchez-Armenta provided his co-conspirators with instructions on how and where to pick up the UNCs. Either he or another member of the conspiracy would provide the co-conspirators with GPS coordinates for where to pick up the UNCs, and then provided them with transportation routes designed to circumvent detection by law enforcement.

Homeland Security Investigations-Casa Grande and Customs and Border Protection's United States Border Patrol-Tucson Sector conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Zander, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: CR-23-0259-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-106_Sanchez-Armenta

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