SAN DIEGO, CA – A U.S. citizen from California pleaded guilty earlier in June to charges related to a ransom scheme involving would-be migrants held hostage in Mexico whose families reportedly had to pay thousands to secure their release.
On June 16th, Isaac Jimenez pleaded guilty to his role in an alien smuggling scheme that involved applying a ransom to the families of would-be migrants attempting to enter the United States via Jimenez’s network of purported smugglers. According to a press release from the Justice Department, there are at least two victims still missing and presumed dead despite the ransoms paid by the victims’ families.
One of the victims was identified as a husband of a U.S. citizen and father of four, with Jimenez having admitted to collecting $15,000 from the victim’s wife in September 2024 to secure his release. Jimenez collected the money from the woman and transported it to his coconspirators in Mexico who were holding the victim hostage, but the coconspirators continued to demand more money from the victim’s family. Once the abductors learned the woman couldn’t afford any more payments, they ceased all communication.
Another known victim was identified as a 20-year-old woman from Tijuana, Mexico, who’d reportedly paid Jimenez $7,000 in December 2024 to be smuggled into the United States only to instead be held for ransom. A ransom of $30,000 was demanded of the woman’s family, with Jimenez’s coconspirators sending videos to her fiancé and family members of them pointing guns at her and kicking her in the chest and head. Even after the victim’s family sent an additional $10,000 to the woman’s captors, she was never released and hasn’t been heard from since.
As part of Jimenez’s plea agreement, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,500 to the families of the known victims to compensate for portions of the paid ransoms as well as help with funeral expenses.
Homeland Security Investigations Executive Associate Director John Condon issued a statement regarding the case, emphasizing that transnational criminal organizations will “not be allowed to thrive” in the country.
“Jimenez admitted that he collected tens of thousands of dollars in ransom payments from family members of migrants who, instead of being smuggled into the U.S., were held against their will in Tijuana. Transnational criminal organizations will not be allowed to thrive in the United States. Operation Take Back America is leveraging combined, interagency efforts to protect our communities and safeguard our homeland,” Director Condon stated.
Jimenez is scheduled for sentencing on September 11th.
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