El Paso Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Tunnel Smuggling Conspiracy

EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 33 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to use a border tunnel to smuggle aliens.

On Jan. 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered a man-made tunnel connecting Juarez, Mexico and El Paso. According to court documents, Oscar Ivan Carrillo, 20, along with co-conspirators, used handheld tools to create new tunnels connecting existing storm drain tunnels to the man-made tunnel. Carrillo and the others would guide aliens through the tunnels and into the U.S. At the tunnel exit, a box truck modified with a trap door was driven over a manhole cover; the trap door was then opened, allowing the aliens to climb up out of the tunnel and into the box truck without being detected.

Carillo was named in a four-count indictment on April 2, 2025, and arrested on June 10. On Nov. 4, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a border tunnel.

“Mexican drug cartels and the alien smuggling organizations (ASOs) with which they partner care nothing about the hopes and dreams of those they illegally smuggle into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. “They care only about the money each of the illegal aliens pay to be smuggled. Even after putting their lives at risk by entering the country using the method employed in this case, as well as more dangerous methods, the cartels and their ASOs often extort these illegal aliens by holding them in U.S. stash houses until their family members can pay additional money for their release. In the Western District of Texas, in support of our law enforcement partners with U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, we will always aggressively pursue alien smugglers because doing so hits cartels right where it hurts: in the pocketbook. And weakening Mexican drug cartels makes this country a place where Americans cannot just survive, but thrive.”

“This case highlights the relentless efforts of our special agents and U.S. Border Patrol partners to disrupt dangerous smuggling operations,” said Taekuk Cho, ICE HSI El Paso acting Special Agent in Charge. “Criminals continue to innovate and exploit our border for profit, putting lives at risk and undermining our nation’s security. Through coordinated efforts and strategic partnerships, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling these dangerous smuggling networks.”

“This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment and teamwork of our U.S. Border Patrol agents and partners to dismantle dangerous smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “The discovery and shutdown of this sophisticated tunnel, and the successful prosecution of one of those responsible, sends a clear message: We will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our border security and bring them to justice.”

ICE HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case as part of Joint Task Force Alpha.

Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), is a highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas

Image showing the white box truck parked at the storm drain exit 

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas

Image of the modification to the floor of the box truck, allowing access into the back of the box from the tunnel

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas

Image of the modification allowing access from the storm drain. It also displays an image of the ladder left behind during a foiled smuggling event located inside the storm drain