An El Paso, Texas, man has entered a guilty plea to charges related to a major human smuggling operation, including conspiring to transport and to harbor undocumented individuals, along with money laundering conspiracies. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jose Luis Avalos, 42, was the ring leader in these operations, which spanned from July 2022 through March 2023. Homeland Security Investigations, along with multiple federal agencies, conducted the investigation leading to Avalos's guilty plea.
Court documents reveal that Avalos, with the assistance of his wife Kristina Hardin and several co-conspirators, coordinated illegal transporting and harboring actions across New Mexico. The operation also involved receiving money transfers as payment for their smuggling services. To avoid detection, Avalos and his cohorts engaged in a scheme to judiciously launder the proceeds, which included depositing funds into multiple bank accounts and utilizing the money for personal gain, effectively concealing its origins.
Jose Luis Avalos, indicted on May 18, 2023, was the last of nine individuals to admit to their roles in the conspiracy. Co-defendant Kristina Hardin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder proceeds. Others, including Avalos’ brother David Avalos-Solis and twin brothers Dario Rey Gamboa and Diego Rean Gamboa, admitted guilt to conspiracy charges related to transporting and harboring undocumented individuals. Additional pleas came from Justin Walker, Cindy Escobar, and Adam Guerrero. Nancy Orellana-Recinos pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting eluding examination or inspection.
The fallout from the case led to various sentences for the participants: Walker received a 21-month prison term; Hardin was awarded two years of probation. Orellana-Recinos got a time served sentence and now faces immigration proceedings. Diego Rean Gamboa, Dario Rey Gamboa, Cindy Escobar, and Adam Guerrero also received time served sentences. As for Avalos, facing up to 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release, his sentencing date has yet to be firmly set.
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