A Phoenix man, Dinero Devon Washington, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle five individuals across the U.S. border, federal authorities announced on Friday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Washington, aged 46, also faces 36 months of supervised release as part of his sentencing.
Washington had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport undocumented migrants on September 7, 2023, prosecutors revealed.
The charges stem from an incident on April 16, 2021, where Washington, along with his co-conspirator Alina Pablo, drove a Ford F-150 towards a Border Patrol checkpoint in Ajo, prosecutors outlined.
Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle and discovered five passengers inside, all wearing camouflage clothing with backpacks and carpeting on their shoes, according to prosecutors. These passengers were identified as citizens of Mexico or Guatemala without authorization to enter the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Phoenix office led the investigation into the case. Through examination of Washington’s cell phone, investigators found incriminating evidence, including pin drops, maps, and text messages, which indicated his role in planning and organizing the smuggling operation, prosecutors explained.