San Diego Man Admits Role in Alien Smuggling Scheme that Held Migrants for Ransom; Distraught Families Paid Thousands but Two Remain Missing

SAN DIEGO – Isaac Jimenez, a U.S. citizen and San Diego resident, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy that held would-be migrants hostage in Mexico while demanding ransom payments from distraught families who paid tens of thousands of dollars in vain. As part of his plea, Jimenez acknowledged that he coordinated alien smuggling events that brought migrants to the United States from Mexico illegally for a price. Jimenez further admitted he collected ransom payments from family members of migrants who, instead of being smuggled into the U.S., were held against their will in Tijuana, never to be seen again. In at least two cases, the victims—a father of four U.S. citizen children and a young woman from Tijuana—disappeared after their families made multiple ransom payments to secure their freedom.