California man admits role in alien smuggling scheme that held migrants for ransom

SAN DIEGO - Isaac Jimenez, a U.S. citizen and San Diego resident, pleaded guilty in federal court June 16 confessing his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy that held would-be migrants hostage in Mexico.

"Jimenez admitted that he collected tens of thousands of dollars in ransom payments from family members of migrants who, instead of being smuggled into the U.S., were held against their will in Tijuana," said acting HSI Executive Associate Director John Condon. "Transnational criminal organizations will not be allowed to thrive in the United States. Operation Take Back America is leveraging combined, interagency efforts to protect our communities and safeguard our homeland."

Although Jimenez did not personally hold the aliens captive, he collaborated with his conspirators having full knowledge that these acts were being committed as a part of the larger smuggling scheme. As part of his guilty plea, Jimenez has agreed to pay $24,500 to the family members of the missing migrants for funeral and related expenses and as restitution for a portion of the ransom payments made to the smuggling organization during the conspiracy.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Learn more about this case on Justice.gov.