Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, 28, from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by United States District Judge John Hinderaker on July 2nd. A jury found Dessens-Romero guilty of multiple alien smuggling offenses, including Conspiracy to Transport and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit and Bringing in Illegal Aliens to the United States for Profit. The jury also determined that Dessens-Romero endangered human lives during his smuggling activities.
Dessens-Romero acted as a human smuggling foot guide for five Mexican nationals, including three sisters aged 23, 20, and 17, and a 16-year-old family friend. On February 13, 2021, Dessens-Romero led the group through the Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca to avoid law enforcement. The group faced severe winter weather conditions and had limited food and water.
By February 15, 2021, the 23-year-old sister was in significant distress, unable to eat, walk, or follow commands. Dessens-Romero instructed the group to leave her near a roadway, assuring them she would be found, but did not call emergency services. Instead, he contacted a transnational criminal smuggling organization and led the remaining members to Sierra Vista, where they were picked up by a load car driver.
The family reported the 23-year-old woman missing on February 16, 2021. Extensive search efforts by United States Border Patrol, officials from Fort Huachuca, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were initially unsuccessful. Dessens-Romero attempted to convince the surviving sisters to remove a missing person post from social media on behalf of the smuggling organization.
In collaboration with SOS Búsqueda y Rescate, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding missing migrants, HSI continued the search. On November 20, 2021, skeletal remains were discovered in an isolated area of the Huachuca Mountains on Fort Huachuca. Dental records confirmed the remains belonged to the missing 23-year-old sister. She is survived by her husband and daughter.
Despite the ongoing search for the missing woman, Dessens-Romero continued smuggling undocumented non-citizens within the United States until June 2021, using WhatsApp to coordinate transportation to various locations, including Tennessee. He was arrested on June 30, 2021, by Tennessee Highway Patrol while transporting two individuals.
“Human smugglers profit from the exploitation of migrants and routinely expose them to violence, injury, and death,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “…the Justice Department will continue to hold accountable these smugglers and the criminal networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants.”
“Alien smugglers care only about the money to be made and not about the human beings whose lives they endanger,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “Unfortunately, one young woman’s desire for a better life in the United States cost her her life due to the greed and recklessness of Dessens-Romero. This case should serve as a warning to other smugglers and the transnational smuggling organizations they work for: my office and our law enforcement partners will be undaunted in our efforts to bring you to justice.”
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