Panga Boat landed on a Santa Barbara County Beach in 2021, Intercepted by Law Enforcement
A Mexican man was sentenced Monday to 110 months in federal prison for trafficking 11 undocumented individuals, as well as 45 pounds of methamphetamine, on a panga boat that landed on a Santa Barbara County beach.
Jorge Muñoz-Muñoz, 27, of Ensenada, Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer.
At the conclusion of a five-day trial in December 2022, a federal jury found Muñoz-Muñoz guilty of one count of conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States, 11 counts of alien smuggling, 11 counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine, and one count of importation of methamphetamine.
On the morning of September 27, 2021, law enforcement sighted a panga boat adrift off the coast of Santa Barbara County. The vessel, which was having engine trouble, ultimately made landfall at Arroyo Quemada Beach, approximately 25 miles west of Santa Barbara.
The investigation in this matter revealed that there were 15 people on the boat, including several crewmembers. Two black bags that contained a total of 40 vacuum-sealed and plastic wrapped bindles, totaling approximately 45 pounds, were thrown off the boat by passengers at Muñoz-Muñoz’s direction and later were recovered by law enforcement.
Authorities also later confirmed that all occupants of the boat were undocumented aliens. Based on interviews with the passengers, it was determined that the passengers arrived at a beach in Ensenada, Mexico to board a panga that would smuggle them into the United States for a price of approximately $15,000 each.
On July 6, Judge Fischer ordered Muñoz-Muñoz acquitted of one count of aiding and assisting an alien convicted of an aggravated felony to enter the United States.
Muñoz-Muñoz has been in federal custody since his arrest in September 2021.
Roel Aranzubia-Álvarez, 45, of Sinaloa, Mexico, the panga boat’s captain, was convicted at trial with Muñoz-Muñoz of alien smuggling charges in this case and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Another defendant and panga boat crewmember, Caín Camargo-López, 46, of Sinaloa, Mexico, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to two counts of alien smuggling and one count of conspiring to allow an alien convicted to aggravated felonies to enter the United States. On August 7, Judge Fischer sentenced Camargo-López to five years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter. United States Customs and Border Protection, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Haoxiaohan Cai of the General Crimes Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi prosecuted this case.
Related Articles
September 27, 2022: Panga Boat and Passengers Apprehended North of Goleta
December 21, 2022: Guilty Verdict for Mexican Nationals Smuggling Drugs and Humans North of Goleta
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Wow – the Magat troll farm is really out in force today. You just need voice in here to make the cesspool overflow.
gotta say that’s pretty funny “saint sac” call’n out Capt’n Doc’s callout 🙂
“Yeah Sac, we’re the ones who are all dragging YOU down to the sewer – total BS. You’re a solid hypocrite.”
sweet!
Saint Sac, indeed! LOL!
.
Sybil-Nice try at shutting down a dissenting opinion EDHAT.
Walmart hasn’t sold guns and ammo in California for at least 3+ years and the actual guns you are afraid of that was mentioned in Sheryl Crow’s song, at least 10 years ago.
“Walmart hasn’t sold ….. the actual guns you are afraid of that was mentioned in Sheryl Crow’s song, at least 10 years ago.”
“In 2015, Walmart ended sales of modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15. We also do not sell handguns,” (https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2018/02/28/walmart-statement-on-firearms-policy)
“At least 10 years ago…..” BWAHAHA!
LOL do you even know what year it is? Your lies are so flagrant and blatant. Are you OK? Are you sober? Crap….. are you simple? If so, I now feel kind of bad for taking you to task….
I enjoy this.
You can never win because your perspective is flawed.
Your a great little commie solder on a site like EDHAT but that doesn’t mean you actually know anything that hasn’t been fed to you by your own confirmation bias.
I would say that you GT and about three others drive 99% of the conflict here.
All conformation bias for clicks.
SAD
Actually it’s almost ALL Sac and GT driving it. They’re bored?
Yep
TNKY – “You can never win because your perspective is flawed.” – No, it’s just that you are 100% wrong.
Hey, I’ve got an idea/slogan for a few mass posters here:
“SHUT UP AND VOTE”
Sac/Alex, no the first part of “Shut up and vote” is shut up. And that goes for both side for sure. Got it? I think we’re all tiring of those like you trying to convince the ‘other side’ that they’re wrong. Who cares? You’re not going to convince anyone here on Edhat to change their vote come next year so please save it. You’ll be happier too in the long run. That’s all I was getting at. Sorry if it didn’t make sense.
Basic – they are so sure that anyone with a dissenting opinion is wrong that they believe it themselves.
They couldn’t admit that an issue is multifaceted because it would go against the “my way is the right way” opinion that they have been brainwashed into holding.
SBMoaner, I really, really enjoy how angry you are. Thank you for entertaining me.
All you said was shut up and vote. We did. You’re making it a thing now that doesn’t exist. Got it? Nah, of course you don’t.
Wait, so “”Shut up” applies to “both sides” but not to you? You think I’m trying to convince you or anyone else they are wrong? BAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!
I’m here to troll and trigger. I’ve stated that repeatedly. And Captain Triggered Again comes back full steam every time.