A Mexican human smuggler, Rafael Almanza-Guillen, was sentenced this week to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to Unlawfully Bringing an Illegal Alien to the United States, Resulting in Death.
The 41-year-old Almanza-Guillen’s prison sentence is to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the Department of Justice, on August 1, 2021, Almanza-Guillen brought three undocumented noncitizens from Mexico into the United States in exchange for payment. He led the noncitizens on foot through the desert, in temperatures averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit. After running out of food and water, the four individuals found themselves stranded in the desert. Ultimately, one of the noncitizens died from hyperthermia, which is abnormally high body temperature. Yuma Border Patrol Agents rescued Almanza-Guillen and the two other noncitizens.