Phoenix Woman Sentenced to 3 Years for Smuggling Unauthorized Migrants in Arizona

In a significant ruling, a 37-year-old Phoenix woman, Tonya Durinda Romero, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for her involvement in a human smuggling operation. U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi delivered the sentence during a hearing on November 14 in Phoenix, following Romero’s guilty plea to conspiracy to transport individuals into the country illegally.

The incident leading to her arrest occurred on January 30 when a deputy from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office pulled over Romero’s Jeep Cherokee on Interstate 10 due to a suspended registration and lack of insurance. Accompanied by two individuals, Romero was driving three men who had just been released from immigration detention. During the stop, all three men failed to provide identification when asked, raising suspicions that led the deputy to contact Border Patrol.

As investigators arrived, one of the men attempted to flee, narrowly dodging incoming traffic. Despite this escape, authorities managed to apprehend Romero and her two passengers. It was later revealed that one of the men, Antonio Mendez, had been previously deported from the U.S. in September 2023.

Romero admitted to Border Patrol agents that she was offered $1,400 by a man known as “Loba” to pick up a family friend. She also confessed to being aware that the men she transported were undocumented immigrants, acknowledging the legality issues surrounding her actions.

The investigation, which involved multiple agencies including Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, surfaced details about Romero’s extensive history in human smuggling. She claimed to have been involved in such activities since she was 16, facilitating the transportation of individuals across state lines and even renting stash houses for harboring them.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa E. Jennis led the prosecution in this case, emphasizing the federal government’s commitment to combating human trafficking and smuggling operations.