Federal prosecutors announced the arrest of two alleged leaders of a criminal organization accused of smuggling approximately 20,000 individuals without permanent legal residency into the United States from Guatemala. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, known as “Turko,” and his lieutenant, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, were apprehended on Friday and have both pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the smuggling operation spanning the past five years.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that a federal judge has ordered the two men, who are in the country illegally, to be held without bond until their trial scheduled for April.
Renoj-Matul is identified as the head of a significant human smuggling ring that has reportedly operated for over a dozen years, mainly transporting individuals from Guatemala to the U.S. The indictment highlights the organization’s alleged role in a tragic vehicle crash in Oklahoma last November, which resulted in the deaths of seven immigrants, including a 4-year-old child.
Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, the driver involved in the Oklahoma crash and already in custody, has also been charged in the California indictment. Another alleged accomplice, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, who supervised a team of drivers, is believed to be in Guatemala and is facing charges as well. Efforts to reach attorneys for the four defendants were unsuccessful as of Monday.
According to prosecutors, Renoj-Matul relied on associates in Guatemala to recruit individuals, each of whom paid between $15,000 and $18,000 for their passage to the U.S. Migrants were also offered additional services to relocate to various cities across the United States, including Los Angeles and Phoenix. Some who could not afford the fees were reportedly held hostage in a stash house in downtown Los Angeles. Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally Said of the arrests:
This smuggling organization demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life, and their actions have deadly consequences. The indictment and arrests have effectively dismantled one of the nation’s largest and most dangerous smuggling operations.
If convicted of all charges, Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj face severe penalties, including the possibility of death or life imprisonment.
