Agents arrest convicted sex offender for human smuggling

OCOTILLO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY)-Border Patrol agents arrest a human smuggler on Tuesday.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection say the incident occurred at around 9:52 a.m. when agents pulled over a vehicle that was suspected of human smuggling on Interstate 8 just east of Ocotillo.

Agents say the driver, a 44-year-old United States citizen, and five passengers were in the vehicle who were illegally present in the United States.

After screening the six men, record checks revealed that the driver had been previously convicted for “Sex with a Minor 3 Plus Years Younger” out of Santa Maria, on February 1, 1999. 

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his conviction. 

The driver was arrested for human smuggling and the five passengers, all Mexican men were sent back to their country of origin.