Macario Ulises Barragan-Cisneros, 45, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 57 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, consecutive to 10 months’ imprisonment for violation of supervised release due to a prior conviction. Barragan-Cisneros pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. Co-defendant Gustavo Bueno De-Haro was sentenced to 12 months and one day by Judge Rash on May 26, 2022.

On September 21, 2021, after several days of surveillance, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered 30 undocumented non-citizens (UNCs) inside a trailer unit located in the Camino Vista Mobile Home Park, in Phoenix, Arizona. A ledger revealing human smuggling operations was located inside the trailer. Barragan-Cisneros was identified as a human smuggler coordinator, in addition to having recruited co-conspirator De-Haro to transport and conceal UNCs.

This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime.

HSI – Nogales Office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the United States Border Patrol. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.