Janine Torres-Centeno, a Colombian national, is facing indictments on charges of conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to enter the United States illegally, as well as for turning a profit by bringing illegal aliens into the country. The formal accusations, issued by a federal grand jury on November 6, 2024, were detailed earlier this month and according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement, commenced from investigations conducted by the United States Border Patrol Sector Intelligence and Homeland Security Investigations in 2022.
The inquiry was sparked after several Colombian nationals, who had been detained near the border, identified Torres-Centeno as the architect behind their smuggling. Following testimonials by others who had managed to cross into the United States with her coordination, the smuggled individuals resolved to contact Torres-Centeno. She reportedly informed them to journey to Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, and to further pay a fee ranging from $1,200 to $2,000 per person for the illegal passage. Once in Sonoyta, the indictment alleges that Torres-Centeno arranged for their movement to local stash houses before attempts were made to illegally cross into the United States.
If convicted on these charges, Torres-Centeno might receive a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and face fines up to $250,000 for the conspiracy charge. The charge of bringing an illegal alien to the United States for profit carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and likewise a fine up to $250,000. It is imperative to understand, though, that an indictment itself is not an indication of guilt. It is merely a procedure for charging someone with a crime, ensuring the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation leading up to this indictment was spearheaded by the Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, Alien Smuggling Unit – Tucson Sector, and Homeland Security Investigations – Casa Grande. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart Zander and Matthew Doyle of the District of Arizona, Phoenix, are overseeing the prosecution. The case has been logged under number CR-24-007816-TUC-SHR and details can be found in the release by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
