TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, 28, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John Hinderaker to 10 years in prison. Dessens-Romero was found guilty by a jury of multiple alien smuggling offenses, including Conspiracy to Transport and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Bringing in Illegal Aliens to the United States for Profit. The jury also found that Dessens-Romero placed human life in jeopardy during his smuggling activities.
Dessens-Romero acted as a human smuggling foot guide for five Mexican nationals who illegally crossed into the United States on February 13, 2021. The group, including three sisters aged 23, 20, and 17, and their 16-year-old family friend, followed Dessens-Romero through the rugged and remote Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca in Southern Arizona. The journey was perilous, with limited food and water, and severe weather conditions at night.
By February 15, 2021, the 23-year-old sister was in significant physical distress and unable to continue. Instead of calling for emergency services, Dessens-Romero advised the group to leave her, claiming they were close enough to a well-traveled road where she could be found. He then contacted a transnational criminal smuggling organization and led the remaining group to Sierra Vista, Arizona, where they were picked up by co-conspirators.
The family of the abandoned woman contacted authorities on February 16, 2021, to report her missing. Despite extensive search efforts by U.S. Border Patrol, military officials from Fort Huachuca, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), she was not located immediately. During this time, Dessens-Romero attempted to convince the surviving sisters to remove a “missing person” social media post on behalf of the smuggling organization. On November 20, 2021, skeletal remains were found in the Huachuca Mountains and identified as the missing woman through dental records.
Dessens-Romero continued his smuggling activities until June 2021, arranging the transportation of undocumented non-citizens within the United States using WhatsApp. He was arrested on June 30, 2021, by Tennessee Highway Patrol while transporting two undocumented individuals.
“Human smugglers profit from the exploitation of migrants and routinely expose them to violence, injury, and death,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s sentence shows the Justice Department will continue to hold accountable these smugglers and the criminal networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants.”
“Alien smugglers care only about the money to be made and not about the human beings whose lives they endanger,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “Unfortunately, one young woman’s desire for a better life in the United States cost her her life due to the greed and recklessness of Dessens-Romero. This case should serve as a warning to other smugglers and the transnational smuggling organizations they work for: my office and our law enforcement partners will be undaunted in our efforts to bring you to justice.”
This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas led the investigation, with coordination from the Fort Huachuca Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, HSI-Nashville office, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, prosecuted the case.