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Two Sentenced for Roles in Fatal Human Smuggling Case in New Mexico

KVIA•Monday, July 20, 2026 at 6:31 PM•Gabrielle Lopez

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In a tragic human smuggling case, two Mexican nationals, Gustavo Joachin-Hernandez and Israel Gonzalez-Cruz, were sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for their involvement as 'foot guides' in an operation that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Evelyn Esmeralda Villalta-Marquez. The incident occurred in August 2024 when U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered 13 undocumented migrants in the desert near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Villalta-Marquez was found dead due to hyperthermia after being left behind during the journey. Joachin-Hernandez admitted to abandoning her despite her struggling to keep up, and both men will face deportation after their prison terms.

Key Details: • Sentencing of Joachin-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Cruz took place following their guilty pleas. • Evelyn Esmeralda Villalta-Marquez died from heat exposure in temperatures reaching 97 degrees. • Both men were involved in the smuggling operation since November 2023. • Joachin-Hernandez expected to earn $2,000 pesos for each successful migrant smuggling.

border deportation crime human-smuggling santa-teresa

People & Organizations

U.S. Border PatrolU.S. Attorney's OfficeSanta Teresa, New MexicoGustavo Joachin-HernandezIsrael Gonzalez-CruzEvelyn Esmeralda Villalta-Marquez

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