A Texas woman who operated a multimillion-dollar human smuggling ring during the Biden-era border crisis has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after one of the migrants being trafficked died and was dumped in a ditch near her property.
Federal prosecutors say 36-year-old Erica Aracely Carmona played a central role in a trafficking operation that moved over 500 illegal aliens from Eagle Pass to San Antonio, generating more than $4.7 million in illicit profits. She used the proceeds to purchase a property in Von Ormy, Texas, which was used as a staging ground for the operation.
The smugglers employed custom trailers and hidden compartments to move their human cargo, including a tractor-trailer with a false compartment capable of concealing up to 40 people. On May 30, 2021, one of the smuggled migrants died after being trapped in such a compartment and was later discarded in a roadside ditch.
Carmona was arrested in August 2022 and pleaded guilty later that year. This week, a federal judge in Del Rio sentenced her to 231 months (over 19 years) in prison and assessed a $955,350 money judgment. She had previously received a separate sentence of 132 months (11 years) for related charges.
The DOJ emphasized the lethal risks of human smuggling, with Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio calling it “a deadly threat to our communities and those seeking a better future.”
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons added, “In San Antonio, we’ve seen firsthand how dangerous it can be to transport humans in trailers of any kind… While we mourn the life lost in this case, the amazing work done by federal law enforcement to shut down this criminal organization no doubt saved lives in the long run.”
Co-defendant Miguel Angel Rivera was sentenced to 216 months last year. Two more co-defendants are set to be sentenced in March.
