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<\/p>\nEL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A 20-year-old El Paso man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for his involvement in a human smuggling scheme that used underground tunnels to get migrants over the US-Mexico border.<\/p>\n
According to the United States Department of Justice, on Wednesday, Oscar Ivan Carrillo was sentenced to 33 months in prison as he and other accomplices used handheld tools to cut through storm drains and create new tunnels to smuggle people into El Paso from Ciudad Juarez.<\/p>\n
This comes after Carrillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a border tunnel on Nov. 4.<\/p>\n
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Image of the modification allowing access from the storm drain. It also displays an image of the ladder left behind during a foiled smuggling event located inside the storm drain. (Credit: U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Texas)<\/p>\n
According to the DOJ, the whole investigation started a year ago, on Jan. 10, 2025, when Border Patrol and ICE agents discovered the tunnel.<\/p>\n
Court documents describe that Carrillo and his accomplices would guide migrants to cross from Mexico and into the U.S. through the tunnels, which led to a manhole cover in El Paso. <\/p>\n
Then a box truck with a trap door would stop above the manhole cover so the migrants could climb out of the tunnels and into the truck without being seen. <\/p>\n
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Image showing the white box truck parked at the storm drain exit (Credit: U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Western District of Texas)<\/p>\n
After the discovery of the tunnel, Carrillo was indicted on April 2 and then arrested on June 10.<\/p>\n
Following news of Carrillo’s sentencing, several law enforcement agencies released written statements applauding the sentencing.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Tunnel discovered along U.S.-Mexico border sealed on Mexican side<\/a><\/p>\n The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons, wrote:<\/p>\n Mexican drug cartels and the alien smuggling organizations (ASOs) with which they partner care nothing about the hopes and dreams of those they illegally smuggle into the United States. They care only about the money each of the illegal aliens pay to be smuggled. Even after putting their lives at risk by entering the country using the method employed in this case, as well as more dangerous methods, the cartels and their ASOs often extort these illegal aliens by holding them in U.S. stash houses until their family members can pay additional money for their release. In the Western District of Texas, in support of our law enforcement partners with U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, we will always aggressively pursue alien smugglers because doing so hits cartels right where it hurts: in the pocketbook. And weakening Mexican drug cartels makes this country a place where Americans cannot just survive, but thrive.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, ICE HSI El Paso Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho wrote:<\/p>\n This case highlights the relentless efforts of our special agents and U.S. Border Patrol partners to disrupt dangerous smuggling operations. Criminals continue to innovate and exploit our border for profit, putting lives at risk and undermining our nation\u2019s security. Through coordinated efforts and strategic partnerships, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling these dangerous smuggling networks.<\/p>\n El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz wrote:<\/p>\n This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment and teamwork of our U.S. Border Patrol agents and partners to dismantle dangerous smuggling operations. The discovery and shutdown of this sophisticated tunnel, and the successful prosecution of one of those responsible, sends a clear message: We will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our border security and bring them to justice.<\/p>\n ICE HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.<\/p>\n Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case as part of Joint Task Force Alpha.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: HSI El Paso: Tunnel discovered along border in Lower Valley was made within the past year<\/a><\/p>\n