Texas man charged in fatal smuggling-related crash in southern Arizona
Nov 16, 2024, 10:30 AM | Updated: 10:31 am
A 39-year-old Texas man was indicted with smuggling undocumented noncitizens in southern Arizona and placing their lives in danger in a highway collision. (Pexels photo)
(Pexels photo)
PHOENIX — A 39-year-old Texas man was indicted on Oct. 30 for charges related to the transportation of illegal aliens in southern Arizona which resulted in one person’s death, authorities announced Thursday.
Moises Gabriel Castillo crashed a commercial semi-truck into the rear of another semi-truck on July 24 while on Interstate 10 near Rita Road in Tucson.
Authorities identified four undocumented noncitizens in the vehicle with Castillo, one being an adult male who was ejected when the vehicles struck each other. The man was pronounced dead on the scene after being evaluated by the Pima County Medical Examiner.
Two of the remaining three passengers later underwent surgery for their undisclosed injuries.
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The undocumented noncitizens told officials they paid Castillo to smuggle them further in the United States, according to a press release.
Castillo was charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and four counts of transportation of illegal aliens.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said if Castillo is convicted for either conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death or transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, he would earn the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety were responsible for investigating this case, and the Tucson division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is overseeing the prosecution.
