Driver of Second Human Smuggling Vehicle Involved in 2021 Del Rio Incident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
*Press Release*
DEL RIO, Texas – A Salvadoran national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for his role in a deadly human smuggling operation that occurred in 2021.
According to court documents, Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, was apprehended and identified as one of 12 illegal aliens who fled from one of two vehicles involved in a failed human smuggling operation on Highway 277, March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed, killing eight of its nine illegal alien passengers.
Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second smuggling vehicle, leading to the attempted traffic stop and, subsequently, Barrientos-Quintanilla and the other illegal aliens fleeing on foot. All 12 illegal aliens were apprehended. Barrientos-Quintanilla initially claimed to be one of the aliens being smuggled, however, he later admitted to being the load driver of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty July 23, 2023 to one count of aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, USBP and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
