El Paso Standard

A Salvadoran national, Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a fatal human smuggling operation that occurred in Southwest Texas in 2021. The sentencing was handed down by a federal judge on March 25. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with support from the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"The tragic loss of life in human smuggling operations is a harsh reminder of the dangerous nature of these criminal activities. ICE HSI will continue to work relentlessly to dismantle these networks and prevent further violence, ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable,” stated Craig Larrabee, Special Agent in Charge at ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio.

Court documents reveal that Barrientos-Quintanilla was one of 12 individuals who fled from one of two vehicles involved in the failed smuggling attempt on Highway 277 on March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed and resulted in the deaths of eight out of nine passengers. After this incident, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second vehicle used for smuggling and attempted a traffic stop. This led to Barrientos-Quintanilla and others fleeing on foot before being apprehended.

Initially claiming to be among those being smuggled, Barrientos-Quintanilla later confessed to being the driver of the vehicle transporting illegal aliens. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2023, to aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister from the Western District of Texas.