In a federal courtroom yesterday, Felipe de Jesus Rosales-Herrera from Riverside entered a guilty plea to charges of human smuggling, acknowledging his role at the helm of a network responsible for clandestinely bringing over 100 unauthorized migrants into the United States, an operation marked by dangerous high-speed pursuits that put many at risk, as per a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Rosales-Herrera's plea agreement revealed the use of foot guides and drivers who ferried migrants from the border to a safe house awaiting sponsorships, charging each individual approximately $10,000. This criminal enterprise did not halt even after a fatal incident on Christmas 2021, which claimed a migrant's life and severely injured two others during a reckless escape from Border Patrol, highlighting the perilous consequences of the smuggling ring's operations.
Moreover, Rosales-Herrera's organization continued its smuggling activities despite the tragic outcomes of past actions, as asserted by officials, with co-defendant John Douglas Oglesby III conceding in his plea that drivers were instructed to evade law enforcement, leading to manifold dangerous chases and several crashes. Co-defendant Jose Luis Alejo-Cruz reportedly resorted to violence and robbery to maintain control over his crew.
U.S. Border Patrol, San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel stressed the gravity of combating such criminal outfits, stating, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, "We will never stop targeting these criminal organizations who prioritize profit over lives". Emphasizing the joint efforts between the U.S. Attorney's Office and law enforcement partners to bring about justice and impose consequences for the crimes, these comments signal the persistent resolve of law enforcement agencies in tackling smugglers' illegal and dangerous practices.
Rosales-Herrera awaits his sentencing on October 11. Meanwhile, co-defendants Alejo-Cruz and Oglesby have already received federal prison sentences of 120 and 70 months, respectively. Proceedings for the remaining defendant, Miguel Isaac Villa-Gomez, are scheduled for today, marking another step in the long legal journey against those involved in this egregious smuggling ring.
