A human smuggler from Phoenix, Kevin Rojo-Barron, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in connection with a deadly crash last March on the Tohono O’odham Nation.
The 21-year-old Rojo-Barron pleaded guilty on July 18, 2024, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death.
According to the Department of Justice, on March 2, 2023, near Why, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Tohono O’odham Police Department and United States Border Patrol responded to a 911 call of a vehicle collision at the intersection of State Route 86 and Federal Route 1. Rojo-Barron was driving the vehicle traveling northbound on Federal Route 1 at a high rate of speed and failed to yield at a stop sign, striking a vehicle traveling eastbound on State Route 86.
All three Tohono O’odham Nation members in the other vehicle died as result of the crash.
Further investigation showed that Rojo-Barron was smuggling four undocumented noncitizens. One of the undocumented noncitizens died due to the crash and another was permanently injured.
