NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 14, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Blanca Estella Gomez of El Cajon pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she managed and directed drivers who transported undocumented immigrants within the United States.
In her plea agreement, Gomez said she coordinated with individuals in Mexico who smuggled immigrants across the border. Gomez directed her drivers to pick up the immigrants in the United States, told the drivers where to take the immigrants, and told them how much money to collect.
According to her plea agreement, Gomez admitted that one driver working for her transported more than 75 immigrants from October 2021 to April 2022. Gomez said that the same driver collected and delivered to her more than $1 million in payments for alien smuggling.
“The coordinated effort to bring this defendant to justice underscores the power of our law enforcement partnerships along the southern border to dismantle criminal smuggling operations at every level,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath.
“Human smuggling is a serious and dangerous offense,” said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego Field Office. “This effort was an outstanding demonstration of law enforcement partnership and commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel D. Shin and Michael A. Deshong of the Southern District of California.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr1120-RBM
Blanca Estella Gomez Age: 47 El Cajon, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Transport Aliens – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and (v)(I)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Customs and Border Protection