Eight Guatemalan nationals have been indicted for allegedly smuggling illegal aliens into the United States over the past four years, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to bring, transport, and conceal aliens across 24 U.S. states, benefiting from fees paid by the aliens for their illegal entry.
The eight individuals, arrested in various locations across the U.S., are accused of facilitating the smuggling of individuals from Guatemala, Mexico, and other parts of Central and South America, as well as Asia. The operation reportedly involved charging aliens approximately $5,000 each for entry into the United States. The proceeds were laundered through mobile applications and U.S. banks, including those in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Among the arrested were Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez, 39, and Ottoniel Castro Argueta, 33, who were taken into custody in Charlotte, North Carolina, and charged with engaging in monetary transactions involving proceeds from the conspiracy. Other arrests took place in Oklahoma City, Clarksville, Arkansas, Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and Flagstaff, Arizona.
The operation extended across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, and several others, where the defendants allegedly helped harbor the illegal aliens once they crossed the border. U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson emphasized the significant collaboration between federal and state law enforcement agencies that led to the arrests.
“The arrest and ongoing investigation of these Guatemalan nationals and their conspirators are crucial to protecting the citizens of the Northern District of Oklahoma and safeguarding the security of all U.S. citizens,” said Johnson.
The investigation continues as law enforcement agencies from multiple regions, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), work together to dismantle the smuggling network and trace the financial flows associated with the operation. The indicted individuals face severe charges, with further prosecutions expected as the investigation unfolds.
