On Monday, a tragic incident near San Diego resulted in the deaths of a 14-year-old boy from India and at least two others when a migrant boat capsized. Five individuals, all Mexican nationals, have been charged in connection with this incident, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. The accused are Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva (36), Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna (30), Melissa Jennelle Cota (33), Gustavo Lara (32), and Sergio Rojas-Fregoso (31).
Rodriguez-Leyva and Zuniga-Luna were arrested shortly after the tragedy for allegedly bringing in migrants resulting in death and for financial gain. They were located at a nearby beach after witnesses reported the overturned panga-style boat. Cota, Lara, and Rojas-Fregoso, who had been previously deported, face charges related to the transportation of illegal aliens.
The Coast Guard and local authorities conducted a search operation, recovering three bodies, including that of the teenager. Four others were rescued, including the boy’s parents—his father is currently in a coma. Initially, nine individuals were reported missing, but Border Patrol locators managed to find eight of them after discovering a related vehicle in Chula Vista. Unfortunately, the tenth person, the boy’s 10-year-old sister, remains unaccounted for and is presumed dead.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the devastating reality of human trafficking, stating that such tragic losses highlight the dangers and indifference of traffickers. He affirmed the commitment to pursue justice for the victims and hold accountable those responsible for this incident.
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