LAS VEGAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Nevada), published as received.

LAS VEGAS – A Mexican man made his initial appearance in court Thursday for allegedly smuggling two illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States. 

“Human smuggling is a direct violation of our nation's laws that compromises the security of our borders and puts human lives at risk for corporate-style profit,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This criminal complaint sends a clear message to smugglers: we will aggressively pursue, disrupt, and dismantle operations that treat human beings as cargo. Our office, alongside our dedicated federal and local law enforcement partners, remains unyielding in our mission to secure our borders and hold smugglers fully accountable under federal law.”

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on April 14, 2025, a Border Patrol Agent initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Adrian Najera-Santos. When the vehicle came to an abrupt stop, Najera-Santos and two passengers fled into the desert. After a brief foot chase and search of the area, law enforcement apprehended Najera-Santos and the two others. During their interviews, the two passengers stated that they had paid to be smuggled into the United States and to California. They were picked up by a vehicle and taken to an unknown town where Najera-Santos picked them up to take them to Santa Maria, California. They were to pay Najera-Santos $700 for driving them.

Najera-Santos is charged with one count of transporting illegal aliens. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is investigating the case; and the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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