Press release from U.S. Attorney’s Office from Western District of Texas
A San Antonio woman was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio on Thursday to 132 months in prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $955,350 for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death.
According to court documents, Erica Aracely Carmona, 36, was a member of an Alien Smuggling Organization that smuggled illegal aliens to San Antonio from the area around Eagle Pass. Carmona’s role included coordinating smuggling operations with co-conspirators in Mexico and directing other members of the conspiracy in regard to payments and driver coordination.
On May 25, 2021, a driver with the ASO transported a trailer containing illegal aliens from a residence in Eagle Pass to San Antonio. When the trailer arrived, one of the aliens was near death, and died about one hour later. Co-conspirators dumped the deceased illegal alien into a ditch within a few miles of a Von Ormy property belonging to Carmona that was being used as a drop-off location. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body along with the deceased alien’s ID card on May 30, 2021.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) determined that Carmona had purchased the property in Von Ormy specifically for the purpose of alien smuggling with proceeds from the ASO’s operations. Following the arrest of co-conspirator Evan John Herrera, ICE HSI discovered WhatsApp communications pertaining to alien smuggling between Herrera and Carmona.
The ASO smuggled more than 500 illegal aliens and generated over $4.7 million in proceeds between January 2021 and July 2022. Throughout their operation, the ASO used custom made “tow-behind” trailers to transport illegal aliens. The ASO had begun to use an 18-wheeler with a false compartment inside the tractor trailer that held up to 40 aliens but that trailer was interdicted by federal law enforcement on the first smuggling attempt.
Carmona was arrested on Aug. 23, 2022, and pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2022. Herrera was sentenced on May 28, 2025, to 151 months in federal prison with credit for time served. Herrera was also ordered to pay a $955,350 money judgment. On May 1, 2025, co-defendant Miguel Angel Rivera was sentenced to 216 months with credit for time served. Additional co-defendants Pedro Luis Martinez-Jaquez and Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Moreno are scheduled to be sentenced in March. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case.
“Alien smuggling organizations and Mexican cartels will always value profit over human lives, and illegal aliens are routinely placed in extremely dangerous situations during their journey, often resulting in death,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. “In San Antonio, we’ve seen firsthand how dangerous it can be to transport humans in trailers of any kind, especially tractor trailers. While we mourn the life lost in this case, the amazing work done by federal law enforcement to shut down this criminal organization and their continued use of a tractor trailer no doubt saved lives in the long run.”
“The loss of life in this case is a stark reminder that human smuggling is not just a crime—it is a deadly threat to our communities and those seeking a better future,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco, HSI San Antonio. “Carmona’s sentencing demonstrates that HSI and our partners will relentlessly pursue and dismantle criminal organizations that prioritize profit over human life. We will not tolerate those who exploit and endanger vulnerable individuals, and we will continue to bring the full weight of justice against anyone responsible for these events.”
ICE HSI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
