One in every of 5 individuals charged by federal prosecutors for his or her roles in a maritime human-smuggling occasion that led to the deaths of 4 individuals off the coast of North County earlier this 12 months was sentenced Monday to 16 months in jail.
Two of the lifeless have been youngsters.
The mass-casualty accident concerned a boat loaded with 19 those who left Mexico on Could 4, then capsized off the coast of Del Mar the next day.
Emergency crews responding to the incident found the bodies of Marcos Lozada-Juarez, 18, Gorgonio Placido-Diaz, 55, and Prince Patel, 14.
Prince’s Mahi, 10, additionally died, however her physique was not found till a couple of weeks later.
A number of different occupants of the boat — together with the childrens’ dad and mom — have been hospitalized for accidents ranging in severity from minor to vital.
Two defendants have been arrested on the seaside, whereas three others have been arrested in autos that had picked up a few of the migrants who arrived on the vessel.
The 2 accused of piloting the boat, Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva and Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna, await trial, whereas the opposite three defendants have pleaded responsible.
The primary defendant to face sentencing, Sergio Rojas-Fregoso, 31, admitted in a plea settlement to guiding a few of the migrants who arrived on shore to autos, whereas additionally transporting some migrants from the scene in his personal automotive.
The plea settlement states that one migrant mentioned he paid $13,000 to be smuggled into america.
Prosecutors allege that when the automobile Rojas-Fregoso was driving was noticed by Border Patrol brokers in Chula Vista, he fled. After his arrest, he claimed he was one of many passengers being transported throughout the smuggling occasion, in keeping with prosecutors.
Rojas-Fregoso’s co-defendants are slated for sentencing subsequent month.
The sentencing got here simply two days after the same incident off the coast of Imperial Seaside when a panga boat capsized, resulting in the deaths of 4 individuals on board.
