Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Spencer Lindquist.
Federal authorities captured the illegal aliens behind a smuggling ring that was responsible for the trafficking of 20,000 people into the United States, with one of the arrested illegal aliens allegedly threatening to decapitate a federal law enforcement agent and his family.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that four different Guatemalan illegal aliens had been captured in connection to the massive smuggling ring and could now face the death penalty for their role in a trafficking operation that resulted in the death of migrants, Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally told The Daily Wire.
"Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, 51, a.k.a. 'Turko,' of the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, was arrested Friday morning along with his alleged right-hand man, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, 49, also of the Westlake neighborhood," McNally's office said. Renoj-Matul is believed to have smuggled
"approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants from 2019 through July 2024."
"Also charged in the indictment are Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, 41, a.k.a. 'Xavi,' a lieutenant in the criminal organization who is a fugitive, and Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, 44, a driver for the smuggling organization who is incarcerated in Oklahoma in connection with the fatal November 2023 car accident," it says.
In addition to allegedly smuggling illegal aliens into the United States, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez allegedly threatened to
"cut off the heads of a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer and members of his family" after his residence was searched by federal authorities.
"All four defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States, and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death," the DOJ release explains.
Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally highlighted the dangers that smuggling rings present to the United States and spoke to the importance of enforcing immigration law.
"These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills. Their members pose a danger to the public and law enforcement. We must vigorously enforce our immigration laws so that these organizations cannot operate," McNally asserted.
"The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country's largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences."
The smuggling operations also resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including one four-year-old boy.
"Paxtor-Oxlaj caused a car accident in Elk City, Oklahoma, while he was smuggling illegal immigrants from New York to Los Angeles," the DOJ explained.
"That car accident resulted in the deaths of seven people who were passengers in the vehicle he drove. Of the seven people killed, three were minors, including a 4-year-old child."
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco further highlighted the dangers that smuggling poses to illegal aliens themselves.
"These arrests illuminate the dangers and victimization associated with aliens attempting to unlawfully enter our country. Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors," he explained.
"HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations so no further lives are lost and our borders are secure."
Two more illegal aliens believed to be tied to Renoj-Matul's smuggling ring were also captured in Los Angeles last week.
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