A Santa Barbara man who allegedly arranged a human smuggling attempt that led to the drownings of three migrants in Ocean Beach made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday.
Faustino Romero De La Cruz, 40, is accused of coordinating the transportation of more than 10 migrants from Mexico to the U.S. in a boat that ended up capsizing near the OB Pier on April 10, 2022.
In a news release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Romero De La Cruz “collected thousands of dollars in smuggling fees” in exchange for attempting to sneak people into the U.S.
He was arrested in Santa Barbara on Wednesday. He faces seven charges, including a conspiracy count with a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“Too many precious lives are needlessly lost in catastrophic incidents like this one,” said San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in a statement. “Case after case demonstrates that smugglers are more interested in maximizing profits than safety, which all too often leads to tragic results.”
– City News Service
