SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man from Southern California was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison Wednesday for his role in a fatal high-speed crash that killed two migrants he was attempting to smuggle across the border.
Sergio Josue Palomera, 23, was handed a 71-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for human smuggling resulting in death — a charge stemming from an 2024 crash in Otay Mesa that ended a brief pursuit by U.S. Border Patrol.
According to prosecutors, Palomera picked up a man and a woman near the U.S.-Mexico border in Otay Mesa on Oct. 22, 2024. Border Patrol agents monitoring the area via remote video surveillance spotted the pickup and attempted to stop Palomera as he drove westbound on State Route 905.
Court documents state that Palomera initially appeared to comply by pulling toward an offramp, but suddenly accelerated back onto the freeway, running a red light in the process. He reached speeds exceeding 110 mph before losing control of the vehicle, which rolled over and crashed.
The woman was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. The man suffered a traumatic head injury and later died at a hospital.
“This defendant treated human lives as disposable cargo — and two people paid the ultimate price,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “This sentence reflects the grave consequences of putting profit over people. We will continue to hold smugglers accountable for the death and suffering their crimes inflict.”
Robinson described the case as “very aggravated,” highlighting the lasting impact on the victims’ families. He stated that this crime “has deprived a little girl of her mother, has deprived that little girl’s father of his wife, and has deprived another family of their son.”
The case is part of ongoing efforts by federal and border authorities to curb human smuggling operations along the southern border.
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