A Mexican woman, Dulce Maria Almaguer-Morquecho, 43, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $52,000 in restitution for her involvement in a human smuggling operation.
Court documents reveal that Almaguer-Morquecho acted as a stash house operator and facilitator, providing shelter to undocumented individuals and recruiting drivers for smuggling operations.
Between May 2021 and January 2022, Almaguer-Morquecho was linked to multiple vehicles and a cell phone used in smuggling attempts. She offered drivers $1,000 per migrant transported.
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Following her arrest in July 2022, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens, causing serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy.
Her co-defendant, Haley Yvonne Garrett, received a six-year sentence for her role as a driver in the operation. Garrett had led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, culminating in a crash that injured several migrants. Other co-defendants have also been sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol, with U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas making the announcement.
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