SEATTLE—Jesus Ortiz-Plata, 46, of Independence, Oregon, who was arrested May 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington, and charged with conspiring to transport dozens of undocumented migrants smuggled across the U.S.-British Columbia border by foot and freight train, was sentenced on February 10, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 months in prison, announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This defendant was a cog in a conspiracy that transported people into the U.S. from across the northern border in an extremely dangerous [human] smuggling scheme loading people into freight cars on trains traveling from Canada into the U.S.,” said now-former U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman. “These transnational smuggling groups charge thousands of dollars and risk the lives of those trying to reach the U.S. We will continue to investigate these smuggling groups to hold members accountable.”
According to court documents, the charges relate to seven separate cross-border smuggling cases — including two where dozens of people were found hiding in rail cars among pellets. It involved the smuggling of people from Central America, South America, and India.
After a bust in 2022, the non-citizens claimed a “Canadian-based facilitator” named “Chuy” would take them to Oregon. Chuy was later identified as Jesus Ortiz-Plata with a listed address on his driver license in Independence, Oregon.
Law enforcement obtained court permission to track Ortiz-Plata’s location. After months of surveillance and monitoring, on May 23, 2024, Ortiz-Plata traveled from his home in Oregon and was surveilled by agents from Seattle to an apartment in Everett.
Ortiz-Plata left the apartment with three men – all aliens who entered his vehicle. All four were taken into custody. Two had crossed the border in a freight train car and one claimed he had walked across the border and been picked up on the U.S. side.
On Nov. 20, 2024, Ortiz-Plata pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport certain aliens for profit.
“These organizations typically charge undocumented non-citizens between $5,000 and $10,000 [US] to be illegally brought across the U.S. border,” wrote David Spitzer, the Homeland Security Investigations special agent who headed the case in an application for a search warrant against Ortiz-Plata.
In asking for the 15-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted Ortiz-Plata did not run the smuggling ring but still played an important role in its success: “Ortiz-Plata admits that he knew the noncitizens he picked up were using freight trains to get into the United States; but nevertheless, he proceeded to participate. Even if he, himself, was not the one directing the noncitizens to jump on, Ortiz-Plata continued to facilitate, and thereby promote, this extremely dangerous smuggling route, multiple times, over the course of at least a year.”
Ortiz-Plata will likely be removed from the United States following his 15-month prison term.
The case was investigated by ICE HSI Border Security Enforcement Team, Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Collins.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Author: Mario Lotmore
