Tucson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Deadly Human Smuggling Related Crash Near Arivaca

TUCSON, Ariz. – Samuel Lopez-Ozuna, 20, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez after pleading guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Resulting in Death, stemming from a deadly crash in 2024.

On Aug. 9, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to pull over a Chevrolet Tahoe on suspicion that the driver, Lopez-Ozuna, was smuggling illegal aliens near Arivaca, Arizona, about five miles north of the border. Instead of yielding to law enforcement, Lopez-Ozuna fled at a high speed, causing the Tahoe to crash and roll almost immediately. Lopez-Ozuna was smuggling seven aliens, all of whom were ejected from his vehicle during the crash. One person died and three others were seriously injured.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            24-CR-6035-TUC-AMM (EJM)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-047_Lopez-Ozuna