"The US Department of Justice, along with its partners, today announced a significant enforcement operation that disrupted and dismantled a prolific human smuggling operation in Texas and across the Southern United States," the Justice Department said in a press release. "The operation, a part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), included the arrest of eight alleged human smugglers whose indictment were unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX)."
The human smuggling operation was led by 31-year-old Erminia Serrano Piedra. Other defendants include Kevin Daniel Nuber, 41; Laura Nubere, 40; Lloyd Bexley, 51; Jeremy Dickens, 45; Katie Ann Garcia, 39; Oliveria Piedra-Campuzana, 53; and Pedro Hairo Abrigo, 33, the release said.
12 September 2022, 13:28 GMT
The individuals were arrested in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, the release added.
Migrants allegedly from Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia paid members of the human smuggling organization to help them travel illegally to and within the United States, the release said.
The indictment also notices the criminal forfeiture of three properties as well as money judgments amounting to $2.3 million, the release said.