A criminal smuggling network accused of bringing thousands of illegal immigrants into the U.S. has been disrupted following the arrests of two men in Los Angeles. Prosecutors say the group operated for years, charging migrants large sums while exposing them to extreme risks.
Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, the alleged mastermind of the smuggling operation, and his associate, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, were taken into custody. The two are accused of overseeing a system that funneled migrants from Guatemala through Mexico, charging up to $18,000 per person. Some were held in stash houses in Phoenix and Los Angeles until payments were completed.
The organization has been linked to the deaths of multiple migrants, including a fatal crash in Oklahoma in late 2023 that killed seven people, among them a child. Authorities say one of the group’s drivers, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, was behind the wheel during the accident and has been charged.
Court documents reveal that some families of smuggled migrants faced threats if they failed to pay. One incident describes Renoj-Matul allegedly warning a mother that her daughter “would come home in a box” if the required money was not sent.
Officials are still searching for another suspect, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, accused of overseeing the transportation network and issuing threats against a Homeland Security agent.
Both Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj remain in custody, with a judge denying bail. Their trial is set for April, and they could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
