San Antonio woman sentenced for role in smuggling operation that resulted in death
San Antonio – A 36-year-old woman from San Antonio was sentenced Thursday to over 11 years in federal prison for her central role in an Alien Smuggling Organization (ASO) that trafficked hundreds of undocumented individuals across the Texas border.
Erica Aracely Carmona received a sentence of 132 months behind bars and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $955,350, following her guilty plea to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. The sentencing was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in federal court in Del Rio, Texas.
According to court records, Carmona coordinated closely with co-conspirators in Mexico and was responsible for organizing smuggling logistics, including handling payments and arranging drivers. Her involvement in the transnational smuggling ring was extensive, with investigators determining she helped smuggle more than 500 individuals, generating over $4.7 million in profits between January 2021 and July 2022.
But the operation took a tragic turn in May 2021. On the 25th, a driver for the ASO moved a trailer loaded with migrants from Eagle Pass to San Antonio. Upon arrival, one person inside the trailer was found to be near death and passed away about an hour later. In an attempt to cover up the death, co-conspirators dumped the victim’s body in a ditch near a property in Von Ormy—a site Carmona had purchased using proceeds from smuggling.
That same property had been used as a drop-off location for the smuggled migrants. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office later recovered the body and an ID card of the deceased on May 30, 2021.
WhatsApp Messages Uncovered Smuggling Details
After the arrest of another ASO member, Evan John Herrera, federal agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered WhatsApp communications between Herrera and Carmona discussing smuggling activities. These exchanges became critical evidence in unraveling the criminal web.
Carmona’s arrest came on August 23, 2022, and she entered her guilty plea on December 19, 2022. Authorities confirmed that the ASO had shifted tactics from custom tow-behind trailers to an 18-wheeler with a hidden compartment, designed to hide up to 40 individuals. Fortunately, that trailer was intercepted during its first smuggling attempt, averting another potential tragedy.
Other Sentences and Ongoing Prosecutions
Carmona was not the only one held accountable. Her co-conspirator Evan John Herrera was sentenced in May 2025 to 151 months in prison and ordered to pay an identical $955,350 penalty. Another member of the organization, Miguel Angel Rivera, received a much longer sentence of 216 months. Two more individuals connected to the ring, Pedro Luis Martinez-Jaquez and Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Moreno, are expected to be sentenced in March 2026.
Authorities said that Carmona’s case demonstrates the ruthless nature of smuggling organizations that “value profit over human life.”
“Alien smuggling organizations and Mexican cartels will always value profit over human lives, and illegal aliens are routinely placed in extremely dangerous situations during their journey, often resulting in death,” stated U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. “In San Antonio, we’ve seen firsthand how dangerous it can be to transport humans in trailers of any kind, especially tractor trailers. While we mourn the life lost in this case, the amazing work done by federal law enforcement to shut down this criminal organization… no doubt saved lives in the long run.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio added, “The loss of life in this case is a stark reminder that human smuggling is not just a crime—it is a deadly threat to our communities and those seeking a better future. Carmona’s sentencing demonstrates that HSI and our partners will relentlessly pursue and dismantle criminal organizations that prioritize profit over human life.”
The case marks a significant federal effort in targeting human trafficking rings operating within Texas and across the U.S.-Mexico border.
