Latest news with #Renoj-Matul
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
DOJ touts arrests of key figures in Guatemalan human-smuggling ring
A Guatemalan man and his top lieutenant have been arrested and face multiple federal charges for purportedly leading a human-smuggling ring that brought about 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, 51, aka 'Turko,' and his 'right-hand man,' Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, 49, were arrested Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. The men, residents of the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, are being jailed without bond ahead of their trial, which is set to begin on April 22. Between 2019 and 2024, the men allegedly brought thousands of people from Guatemala to the U.S., though sometimes, those migrants were held hostage or put in dangerous situations leading to their deaths. As an example, officials highlighted a 2023 car crash in Oklahoma that killed seven people, including a 4-year-old child. In that crash, Renoj-Matul's underling Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, 44, was driving migrants from New York to Los Angeles when he 'caused a car accident in Elk City, Oklahoma,' resulting in the deaths of seven passengers, including three children as young as 4 years old. Paxtor-Oxlaj, who'd been previously deported in 2010, was taken into custody and charged with being an illegal alien in the U.S. after being deported. Paxtor-Oxlaj and Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, 41, aka 'Xavi,' a lieutenant in the organization who remains on the loose, were charged alongside Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj. Beyond smuggling, the men also threatened deadly violence against those they trafficked and law enforcement, officials said. 'A separate federal criminal complaint filed March 2 charges Obispo-Hernandez with threatening to cut off the heads of a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer and members of his family,' the release said. 'The threats were allegedly made Friday to the federal law enforcement office in the wake of search warrants being executed at Obispo-Hernandez's residence.' Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj also allegedly held two Guatemalan nationals hostage in Westlake for months last year, 'allegedly threaten[ing] to kill the victims until third parties paid for their release.' All four men are charged with conspiracy to bring aliens into the U.S., transporting aliens in the U.s. and harboring aliens for private financial gain and resulting in death. 'Additionally, Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj are charged with two counts of hostage taking,' the release said. 'Obispo-Hernandez and Paxtor-Oxlaj also are charged with one count of transporting aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death.' If convicted on all counts, the men could be sentenced to death or life in prison, though officials indicated they believe the case will have an impact larger than these four men. 'The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country's largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations,' said acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally. 'This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged massive human smuggling operation dismantled in Southern California
Federal law enforcement officials have announced the arrests of the leaders of an alleged smuggling ring believed to have transported more than 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Guatemala, holding some of them hostage for months, authorities said. Federal agents arrested two of the suspects Friday while carrying out search warrants in Los Angeles' Westlake District, according to Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California Joseph T. McNally. They were identified as Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, also known as "Turko," 51, who is accused of leading the criminal enterprise, as well as Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, 49, who Department of Justice officials described in a statement as Renoj-Matul's "right-hand man." A third defendant in the case, 44-year-old Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, 44, was already in custody in Oklahoma awaiting trial in connection with a deadly vehicle crash that claimed the lives of seven people he had allegedly been smuggling, including three children, in November of 2023, officials said. The fourth suspect, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, 41, remained a fugitive, according to McNally. He's additionally accused of calling a federal agent and threatening to cut off the heads of both the agent and the agent's family after a search of Obispo-Hernandez's home on Friday. "These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills. Their members pose a danger to the public and law enforcement," McNally said. "We must vigorously enforce our immigration laws so that these organizations cannot operate. The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country's largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences." All four defendants were Guatemalan nationals living illegally in the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each charged with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death, according to the DOJ. Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj also each face two counts of hostage taking and one count of transporting aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death. If convicted as charged, all the defendants could be sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty. Evidence seized during the investigation revealed the operation had smuggled an estimated 20,800 people into the U.S. over the past five years, McNally said. He described the group as "one of the largest human smuggling rings in the nation." The organization would charge immigrants between $15,000 and $18,000 each for the trip, he said. They generally traveled through Mexico and into Phoenix, then on to Los Angeles and other "stash houses" throughout the U.S. "If the fees were not paid, they were held hostage, often for months at the time," McNally said. The smugglers would also threaten violence against the migrants and their families. Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Dwayne Angebrandt said the smuggling operation posed a serious danger to both the nation and the migrants, themselves, adding that many are "just looking for a better life." "The illegal activity not only threatens the lives of those being smuggled, but also our national security and safety," just looking for a better life," he said. Law enforcement officials first came across the suspected smuggling operation in 2021, noticing a trend of large groups of undocumented immigrants from Guatemala being smuggled along the 10 Freeway between Arizona and Southern California, according to United States Border Patrol's El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino. The large amounts of migrants and cash found during the busts led authorities to realize that "this was a complex, coast-to-coast smuggling organization," he said. "In the ensuing years, a lot of good work was accomplished," Bovino said. "This organization was dismantled, top to bottom, this past Friday. That's what we're after here. One of the most complex, far-reaching smuggling operations is now out of business," he said. There was more to come, Bovino added. "We're turning and burning onto that next target," he said. "As soon as we leave this conference room, we're on to the next one." Two other Los Angeles men not charged in the federal complaint, but accused of serving as "lieutenants" in the smuggling ring, were also arrested Friday on unrelated charges, according to the DOJ. Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj pleaded not guilty to their charges Friday and were ordered held without bond, officials said. A trial was scheduled for April 22 in federal court in Los Angeles. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Alleged massive human smuggling ring dismantled in Southern California
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Feds charge 'El Jefe,' alleged boss of vast human smuggling network behind deadly crash
Federal authorities in Los Angeles have arrested and charged two alleged leaders of a criminal organization said to have smuggled around 20,000 undocumented immigrants from Guatemala to the U.S. over five years — including seven who died in a car crash in 2023. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, a.k.a. "El Jefe" and "Turko," and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj were arrested last week and have pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges related to smuggling migrants across the U.S border. A federal judge ordered the men, who are in the country illegally, jailed without bond. Attorneys for Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The arrests on Friday prompted fears of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement "raid" in Los Angeles. Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe, an ICE spokeswoman, previously said there was an 'ongoing investigation on human smuggling.' According to an indictment filed last week, the "Renoj-Matul transnational criminal organization" operated for at least a dozen years and specialized in transporting migrants from Guatemala. Federal authorities called it one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the country. Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, allegedly a lieutenant in the organization and a supervisor of a team of drivers, and Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, who allegedly worked as a driver, have also been charged, according to the indictment. Read more: Russian national charged with biting ICE officer who arrested him Obispo-Hernandez is believed to be in Guatemala, federal authorities said. Paxtor-Oxlaj has been in custody in Oklahoma since Nov. 21, 2023, when he was allegedly involved in a car crash that killed seven people he was transporting to Los Angeles, including three minors, according to the indictment. One of those killed was a 4-year-old, according to local news reports. Renoj-Matul allegedly worked with associates in Guatemala who solicited immigrants to come to the U.S., charging between $15,000 and $18,000 for each one. Lieutenants within the Renoj-Matul organization led smuggling cells with teams of drivers and operators of stash houses, according to the indictment. Mejia-Chaj, described as Renoj-Matul's "right-hand man," allegedly operated a stash house on James M. Wood Boulevard in L.A., where people smuggled by the organization were brought and held. After the smuggling fee was paid, the migrants were transported elsewhere in the country, according to the indictment. If the fee was not paid, they would allegedly be held against their will. Even after the fatal car collision in Elk City in 2023, which Paxtor-Oxlaj allegedly caused, the smuggling continued, according to the indictment. In a 2024 case, an undocumented immigrant, referred to only by her initials M.M.A., was allegedly held against her will in the stash house for three months when the smuggling fee of $15,000 went unpaid. Read more: Leaked document says 'large scale' immigration enforcement action coming soon to L.A. According to the indictment, after a third party reneged on paying M.M.A.'s smuggling fees, Renoj-Matul and others in Guatemala called the woman's mother and threatened to harm her daughter, including by warning that she 'would come home in a box' if the fees weren't paid. Last year, on Aug. 7, an unindicted co-conspirator called M.M.A.'s mother blaming her for a law enforcement search of the Wood house the month prior. According to the indictment, in December, three unidentifed people in Guatemala traveled to M.M.A.'s mother's home in Guatemala and demanded payment, threatening her with firearms. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Feds bust massive alleged Guatemalan human smuggling ring operating out of California
Federal agents arrested two Guatemalan men on Friday accused of operating one of the largest human smuggling operations in the United States. The two were picked up near downtown Los Angeles and are accused of moving 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Guatemala since 2019. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj each appeared in federal court hours after their arrests, and a judge ordered each held without bond. If convicted, they could each face the death penalty. "These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills," said acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. "The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country's largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences." Previously Deported Guatemalan Man Convicted Of Crimes In Us Arrested In New York Two other men are also charged in the case; Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, who is behind bars in Oklahoma for his role in a 2023 car crash that killed seven migrants – including five from the same family – and Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, who is described as a "lieutenant" in the smuggling operation. Read On The Fox News App "Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of the safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors," said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. "HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations, so no further lives are lost, and our borders are secure." Prosecutors allege Renoj-Matul, who goes by the name Turko, was the ringleader of the operation. He was working with counterparts in Guatemala who would charge migrants $15,000 to $18,000 for safe passage to the United States. Once here, the migrants were then charged again for additional transport across the country. Renoj-Matul's indictment alleges migrants under his direction were moved to at least 20 states and Washington, D.C. Guatemala Ready For More Deportations Under Trump, Report Says: 'We Know It's Coming' It is believed that migrants who did not pay were held hostage in a stash house in the same Los Angeles neighborhood where Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj were arrested. In one incident last year, prosecutors alleged Renoj-Matul called the mother of a migrant he was holding hostage and threatened that she "would come home in a box" if her smuggling fees were not paid. Obispo-Hernandez remains at large and faces additional charges for threatening to cut off the head of a Homeland Security Investigations officer who served a search warrant at his house on article source: Feds bust massive alleged Guatemalan human smuggling ring operating out of California
Fox News
03-03-2025
- Fox News
Feds bust massive alleged Guatemalan human smuggling ring operating out of California
Federal agents arrested two Guatemalan men on Friday accused of operating one of the largest human smuggling operations in the United States. The two were picked up near downtown Los Angeles and are accused of moving 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Guatemala since 2019. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj each appeared in federal court hours after their arrests, and a judge ordered each held without bond. If convicted, they could each face the death penalty. "These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills," said acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. "The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country's largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences." Two other men are also charged in the case; Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, who is behind bars in Oklahoma for his role in a 2023 car crash that killed seven migrants – including five from the same family – and Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, who is described as a "lieutenant" in the smuggling operation. "Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of the safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors," said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. "HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations, so no further lives are lost, and our borders are secure." Prosecutors allege Renoj-Matul, who goes by the name Turko, was the ringleader of the operation. He was working with counterparts in Guatemala who would charge migrants $15,000 to $18,000 for safe passage to the United States. Once here, the migrants were then charged again for additional transport across the country. Renoj-Matul's indictment alleges migrants under his direction were moved to at least 20 states and Washington, D.C. It is believed that migrants who did not pay were held hostage in a stash house in the same Los Angeles neighborhood where Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj were arrested. In one incident last year, prosecutors alleged Renoj-Matul called the mother of a migrant he was holding hostage and threatened that she "would come home in a box" if her smuggling fees were not paid. Obispo-Hernandez remains at large and faces additional charges for threatening to cut off the head of a Homeland Security Investigations officer who served a search warrant at his house on Friday.
