SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Two Mexican men have been sentenced to almost four years in prison after they pleaded guilty to acting as “foot guides” to migrants crossing, in a human smuggling operation that authorities said resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman. <\/p>\n
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico, 37-year-old Gustavo Joachin-Hernandez and 36-year-old Israel Gonzalez-Cruz– who are in the country illegally– were sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after they pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to transport an illegal alien” for guiding a dozen undocumented migrants through the Santa Teresa desert, a trek that ended up costing the life of migrant Esmeralda Villalta-Marquez. <\/p>\n
According to court documents, on August 7, 2024, Border Patrol agents discovered the migrants in Santa Teresa hiding near New Mexico State Road 9.<\/p>\n
As agents investigated the finding, they learned that Joachin-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Cruz had been leading the group through the desert for about five and a half hours in temperatures that reached 97 degrees.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: CBP officer indicted, arrested on federal charges after alleged chokehold and false report<\/a><\/p>\n Court documents show that Joachin-Hernandez told agents that Villalta-Marquez had been struggling to keep up with the group due to the heat and admitted to leaving her behind to continue with the smuggling operation. He said that she was in bad shape but still alive when he left her. <\/p>\n The Medical Examiner concluded that Villalta-Marquez died of “hyperthermia” due to the heat. <\/p>\n Joachin-Hernandez also admitted to acting as a “foot guide” for smugglers since November 2023, adding that he expected to be paid 2,000 Mexican pesos for each migrant he would successfully bring to a stash house. <\/p>\n Since both Joachin-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Cruz are in the country illegally, they will be deported upon serving their prison sentence. <\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Escobar introduces bill to stop eminent domain seizure of Mount Cristo Rey area<\/a><\/p>\n