TUCSON, Ariz. – Obiel Anthony Ochoa-Renteria, a 21-year-old from Tempe, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his involvement in an alien smuggling conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez issued the sentence last week, which also includes three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Ochoa-Renteria had pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit on March 27, 2024.
The investigation into Ochoa-Renteria’s smuggling activities began in September 2022 when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered smuggling operations being coordinated via Instagram. Through the investigation, agents linked an Instagram account belonging to Ochoa-Renteria to multiple smuggling events that took place between June and September 2022.
On May 14, 2023, Ochoa-Renteria was stopped for speeding near Sierra Vista by a Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper. During the traffic stop, Border Patrol agents assisted DPS officers and found two men in camouflage hiding in the trunk of Ochoa-Renteria’s vehicle. The men were later identified as Guatemalan and Mexican nationals who were unlawfully present in the U.S. Ochoa-Renteria admitted he was aware of their status and had agreed to transport them for a fee of $200 to $300 each.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson prosecuted the case.
