Five Charged in Human Smuggling Event that Led to at Least Three Deaths

SAN DIEGO – Two complaints were filed in federal court today charging five people with participating in a human smuggling event that led to the deaths of at least three migrants, including a 14-year-old boy from India. His 10-year-old sister is still missing at sea and presumed dead; their father is in a coma and mother is also hospitalized.

According to court records, on May 5, 2025, witnesses observed an overturned panga boat at a beach in Del Mar, California. Bystanders and San Diego Lifeguards participated in rescue efforts. Law enforcement officials recovered three bodies, including the boy, identified in court records as P.P.B. Four others were rescued and hospitalized, including P.P.B.’s mother and father; nine others were initially unaccounted for, including P.B.B.’s 10-year-old sister.

Two men believed to be involved in the smuggling event – Mexican nationals Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva - were arrested Monday at the beach and charged today with Bringing in Aliens Resulting in Death and Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain.

Later Monday night, Border Patrol agents were conducting operations in Chula Vista, California where they identified a vehicle that had been observed at the scene of the maritime smuggling incident earlier that day. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. During the investigation, Border Patrol Agents identified two other vehicles that were involved in the smuggling event and were able to successfully stop and arrest the drivers of these load vehicles and locate eight of the nine migrants missing from the boat, with the exception of the 10-year-old sister of P.P.B.

Melissa Jenelle Cota, Gustavo Lara and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa – all Mexican nationals - were arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. Rojas-Fregoso, was identified as an alien who had previously been deported on December 19, 2023.

“The drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We are committed to seeking justice for these vulnerable victims, and to holding accountable any traffickers responsible for their deaths.”

“Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “Yesterday's heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed. The HSI along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Edward Chang.

DEFENDANTS                                            

Case Number 25mj02403-JLB

Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva                          Age: 36                                  Mexico

Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna                                Age: 30                                   Mexico

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Bringing in Aliens Resulting in Death – Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(II), and (a)(1)(B)(iv)

Maximum penalty: Death or Life in Prison and $250,000 fine

Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and $250,000 fine

Case Number 25mj2386-JLB

Melissa Jennelle Cota                                    Age: 33                                  Mexico

Gustavo Lara                                                  Age: 32                                   Mexico

Sergio Rojas-Fregoso                                     Age: 31                                   Mexico

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Transportation of Illegal Aliens – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii)

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $500,000 fine

Deported Alien Found in the United States – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326

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

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force

Homeland Security Investigations

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

United States Coast Guard

San Diego Lifeguard Service

San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.