Phoenix man sentenced over 6 years in prison for human smuggling resulting in death

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for his role in human smuggling that resulted in death.

Isaiah Lorenzo Brinkley, 21, will serve 75 months, followed by five years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport humans for profit, placing life in jeopardy and resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona said in a press release.

Brinkley oversaw coordination on Jan. 26, 2020, between a driver known as “G.J.H.” and two Columbian citizens seeking to be transported into the United States, the release said.

On that evening, border patrol agents advised G.J.H. to secondary inspection. He fled the checkpoint and crashed the vehicle, resulting in his, and the two passengers, ejection from the vehicle.

One of the passengers and G.J.H. were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said several weeks after the crash, Brinkley continue to coordinate human smuggling for profit.

Brinkley told passengers to travel in trunks of vehicles or advised others to do so.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security investigations.

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