San Diego, California – Elizabeth Ugarte Rios, 38, of Vista was sentenced Thursday to 41 months in federal prison after a reckless smuggling operation left a 71-year-old cyclist critically injured. The sentencing, held in federal court, capped a tragic case that underscores the dangers of illegal transport activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
On August 4, 2024, Rios drove with her minor daughter to Otay Lakes County Park in Chula Vista, where she picked up a group of undocumented immigrants who had crossed the border by scaling a fence. As she left the park with her passengers, a Border Patrol agent in an unmarked vehicle began following her.
Moments later, on Wueste Road, a rural two-lane highway, Rios attempted to pass another vehicle by swerving across the double-yellow line. She traveled 67 miles per hour—nearly double the posted speed limit. Just four seconds before the crash, Rios hit the brakes, but it was too late. She struck 71-year-old cyclist Robert Hilborn at approximately 30 miles per hour…