A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison following his guilty plea to charges linked to a human smuggling operation that resulted in a fatal crash on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Kevin Rojo-Barron, age 21, acknowledged his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit, an endeavor that ended in the deaths of four individuals, including one noncitizen he was smuggling, according to a Department of Justice press release.
On a fateful day, near Why, Arizona, a high-speed chase ended tragically when Rojo-Barron's vehicle failed to obey a stop sign and collided with another car, causing the deaths of three Tohono O'odham Nation members. The investigation by Homeland Security and local law enforcement revealed an AR-15-style rifle in the crashed vehicle, compounding the gravity of an already grim situation.
Following his plea on July 18, 2024, Rojo-Barron was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash. The announcement of the sentencing outlined the charges, which included "Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death." Homeland Security Investigations-Sells, Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department collaborated closely on the investigation of this case.
Michelle Y. Chamblee and Ryan P. DeJoe, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Arizona in Tucson, were the lead prosecutors in the case against Rojo-Barron. The incident serves as a solemn reminder of the human costs entangled with unlawful immigration practices and the perilous journeys embarked upon by those seeking a better life in the shadows, outside the boundaries of law.
