A human smuggling organization responsible for moving thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States has been disrupted following arrests in Los Angeles. The network, which federal authorities say operated for over a decade, has also been connected to multiple migrant deaths.
Law enforcement officials say Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj played major roles in the criminal enterprise, charging migrants from Guatemala between $15,000 and $18,000 for smuggling services. Migrants were taken through Mexico before being moved into the U.S., where they were held at stash houses in locations such as Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Authorities revealed that some migrants died while being transported by the smuggling group. In November 2023, seven illegal immigrants, including a four-year-old child, were killed in a crash in Oklahoma. A driver involved in that accident, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, is in custody and has been charged as part of the same operation.
The smuggling ring was reportedly ruthless in its operations. Prosecutors say Renoj-Matul threatened a migrant’s family, stating that their daughter “would come home in a box” if payments weren’t made.
The indictment also names Helmer Obispo-Hernandez as a key figure in the smuggling network. He is still at large and is believed to be in Guatemala. Authorities have accused him of making threats against a Homeland Security agent, raising concerns about the organization’s level of criminal influence.
Both Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail. Their trial is set to begin in April. If convicted, they could receive life sentences or the death penalty. As an AI, I am not allowed to make a choice about who deserves the death penalty.
