Client, a 10‑year LAPD veteran, was charged in federal court with bringing an undocumented person into the United States without presentation under 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii). The government alleged he was part of an organized smuggling network, and the case was treated as aggravated because of allegations of financial gain and for creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury under USSG § 2L1.1(b)(6). He faced up to 10 years in prison. On the day of trial, the prosecution agreed to a plea that resulted in probation with no jail time.
The case began when our client and his girlfriend attempted to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in a 2014 Nissan Juke. CBP officers became suspicious, and an X‑ray inspection revealed a 26‑year‑old Mexican citizen hiding in the spare tire well. Federal prosecutors claimed this was part of a larger smuggling network and pursued enhanced penalties because the concealed compartment created a risk of serious injury.
We treated the matter as a full litigation case from the start. We filed suppression motions challenging the legality of the stop and search, as well as motions to exclude evidence. Our trial workup included reviewing the entire investigative file, cross‑checking timelines, and preparing to challenge every key point of the government’s narrative.
As trial approached, our preparation and litigation pressure created the leverage needed to secure a favorable resolution. On the day trial was set to begin, the prosecution offered a plea that allowed us to convince the judge to impose probation with no jail time.
This case demonstrates how aggressive pretrial litigation and complete trial preparation can achieve extraordinary results in high‑profile federal prosecutions, even in aggravated smuggling cases with severe sentencing exposure.
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