Fraud Unit investigator helps stop human smuggling ring – Technologist

While working out of the FBI field office in South Texas, Fraud Unit investigator Sgt. Chris helped the federal agency uncover a $2 million human smuggling operation.

Sgt. Chris was investigating an insurance fraud scam when he came across Luis Enrique Moctezuma-Acosta and Scarlett Fuentes-Gavarrete. Moctezuma-Acosta is a Mexican National and Fuentes-Gavarrete is a Honduran National living illegally in Mission near the Texas-Mexico border.

“As we followed the money and did interviews, we found these people that were buying properties – and then found out what they did for a living,” Sgt. Chris said.

Moctezuma-Acosta and Fuentes-Gavarrette could afford to buy properties thanks to money raised running a human smuggling ring. Their network, reaching from Honduras to Boston, smuggled 2,400 people into the U.S.

Once people were smuggled across the Rio Grande into the U.S., the self-titled “LEMA” smuggling organization used several methods to circumvent U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints, including tractor trailers, commercial planes, and guides to walk travelers around the checkpoints. They laundered their proceeds through businesses they created, including a used car lot.  

“We paused the primary case,” Sgt. Chris said, “and worked on this case to get these people in custody and made sure that everybody was safe.”

In March, Moctezuma-Acosta and Fuentes-Gavarrette pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges. In July, they were each sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. They face deportation after they’re released.

Authorities seized over $1.5 million in cash and $2.7 million in luxury vehicles, jewelry, and property. Two other family members pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. The investigation identified one immigrant who died while being smuggled.

Sgt. Chris said of the couple: “I’m glad they’re off the street. They had no concept of the harm they were doing.”

Sgt. Chris joined TDI in 2016 after 30 years in law enforcement. Chris works closely with the FBI combatting financial crimes and insurance fraud.

“I love what I do,” he said. “I like helping my community and people who can’t help themselves.”

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