El Paso Standard

A Cuban national has received a 111-month federal prison sentence in El Paso for crimes related to human smuggling and sexual assault, following investigative efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and support by the U.S. Border Patrol. The individual, Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, aged 30, faced charges of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens along with the sexual assault of one of the aliens.

"Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens. He continued, "HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions."

Court documents elaborate on Arriola-Rivero's involvement, showing his role in maintaining a stash house in El Paso and being part of an evasive vehicle carrying more than a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. The investigation uncovered evidence of his sexual assault perpetrated at the stash house. His arrest followed a federal grand jury indictment on May 17, 2023, with a subsequent guilty plea in late August 2024.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas commented on the sentencing: "It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims." She emphasized, "This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable."