Evergreen Reporter

A Cuban national has been sentenced to 111 months in federal prison in El Paso for his involvement in human smuggling activities, including conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens and sexual assault. Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, aged 30, was implicated in managing a stash house in El Paso and was part of a vehicle that evaded law enforcement while carrying over a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. Evidence showed that he committed sexual assault against one of the aliens at the stash house.

Arriola-Rivero faced indictment by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2023, and was apprehended on September 7, 2023. He entered a guilty plea on August 27, 2024.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman stated, “It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims. This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable.”

Jason T. Stevens, the ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge for El Paso, remarked, “Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat. HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol.