SAN DIEGO – A local area man pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 2, to alien smuggling charges and admitted that, in carrying out those crimes, he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old female multiple times while traveling from Mexico to the United States. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol (BP) investigated this case.
Cecilio Yonatan Jimenez-Bautista, 27, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday. No relative or guardian accompanied the minor.
“This guilty plea is a reminder of what the combined effort of law enforcement can accomplish,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “HSI special agents remain vigilant to investigate violent human smugglers capable of such revolting actions in the course of circumventing our country’s immigration laws.”
According to his plea agreement, on multiple occasions from March 15, 2022, to June 29, 2022, Jimenez-Bautista led at least 25 undocumented aliens from Mexico into the United States. The smuggling fees ranged from at least $5,000 to $9,500 per migrant.
In particular, from June 14, 2022, to June 16, 2022, Jimenez-Bautista and another individual led a group of 10 undocumented migrants from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico to an area near Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista, California. The group included the minor. Jimenez-Bautista admitted that on June 14 and 15, 2022, he isolated the juvenile from the group and touched her breasts and genitalia without permission. On June 16, 2022, he sexually assaulted her, causing serious bodily injury.
“The defendant had no regard for this child’s humanity,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The brutal victimization of a 17-year-old minor is yet another example of the cruelty of smugglers who care only about profit.”
“We continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to deliver consequences to those nefarious characters who wish to inflict harm in our communities,” said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. “We have zero tolerance for these types of actions, and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2024.
The Southern District of California and the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice are investigating this case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
