Federal authorities have dismantled a large human smuggling network accused of illegally bringing thousands of migrants into the United States, resulting in multiple deaths. Two men, suspected of running the operation, were arrested in Los Angeles.
Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, who authorities say played key roles in the smuggling ring, were taken into custody on Friday. Prosecutors say the network smuggled around 20,000 people from Guatemala into the U.S., charging migrants as much as $18,000 for transportation. Some who were unable to pay were allegedly held in stash houses in Phoenix and Los Angeles until their families sent money.
The smuggling group has been linked to several fatalities, including seven individuals who died in a vehicle crash in Oklahoma in late 2023. Among the victims was a four-year-old child. A driver involved in the accident, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, is already in custody in Oklahoma and has also been charged in connection with the operation.
Prosecutors say the smuggling group operated by transporting illegal immigrants through Mexico before arranging their entry into the U.S. Once inside the country, migrants were sent to destinations across at least 20 states for additional fees. In some cases, families of migrants faced threats if they failed to pay. Court records describe one instance where Renoj-Matul warned a migrant’s mother that her daughter “would come home in a box” if the money wasn’t delivered.
A third suspect, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, remains at large. Authorities believe he is in Guatemala and have accused him of threatening a Homeland Security agent and their family. He is said to have overseen a network of drivers who transported migrants once they crossed the border.
Both Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj have pleaded not guilty and remain in federal custody. A federal judge ordered them to be held without bail until their trial in April. If convicted, they could face life in prison or the death penalty.
