Chula Vista Woman Admits Coordinating Alien Smuggling Through Otay Mesa Port of Entry

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - December 19, 2023

SAN DIEGO - Ericka Aldana of Chula Vista pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she managed all aspects of a human smuggling operation - from helping to place undocumented immigrants in trunks, to coaching drivers to successfully cross the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, to staging immigrants at a Chula Vista stash house, to helping transport them to their final destinations in the U.S.

Aldana admitted that she recruited at least five drivers, procured vehicles for their use, obtained passports for them, and coached them how to dress and how to answer questions by Customs and Border Protection officers. Aldana said she crossed the border in tandem with the drivers to direct them to what she considered the less risky border lanes.

Aldana acknowledged smuggling more than 25 aliens during a five-year span, some of whom paid as much as $10,000 to be smuggled into the United States.

"Ms. Aldana avoided getting caught for years, but she could not evade accountability forever," said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. "Federal law enforcement brought a carefully choreographed network of cross-border human smuggling to justice today."

"Human smuggling is a serious and dangerous offense," said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection's San Diego Field Office. "This effort was an outstanding demonstration of law enforcement partnership and commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable migrants for profit."

"Human smuggling is driven by greed as the defendant demonstrated in this case," said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. "HSI and partnered law enforcement agencies will not stand for this deceitful and often violent act of human smuggling. We are committed to bringing down human smugglers one by one."

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Bauman and Michael A. Deshong.

DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr2174-CAB

Ericka Aldana Age: 40 Chula Vista, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens Without Presentation - Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 371

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine

AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations

United States Customs and Border Protection