Two men smuggle immigrants resulting in rollover accident and death of a passenger

Matthew Dylan Ramirez of Tempe, Arizona and Jesus Madrid-Varela of Mexico plead guilty for smuggling illegal immigrants resulting in the death of a passenger

TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Matthew Dylan Ramirez and Jesus Madrid-Varela pleaded guilty for transporting undocumented immigrants for money resulting in a rollover accident and the death of a passenger.

Madrid-Varela, a 19-year-old man smuggled three undocumented immigrants into the U.S. and guided them through southern Arizona by foot to somewhere near Quijotoa, Arizona in May 2021.

On May 22, 2021, Ramirez, a 20 year old man transported Madrid-Varela and the three undocumented immigrants.

Ramirez was believed to be speeding and passed a Tohono O'odham Police officer who attempted to stop them but was unsuccessful because Ramirez was driving over 100 miles per hour.

Ramirez then lost control resulting in a rollover accident causing all four passenger to eject from the car.

A 36-year-old woman from Mexico who was a passenger was pronounced dead on scene while the others sustained non-fatal injuries.

After the arrest, Ramirez admitted to being recruited on Snapchat by a smuggling organization that was going to pay him $1,000 for transporting the undocumented immigrants to Phoenix.

Ramirez pleaded guilty to the formal charge without a plea agreement and will face up to life in prison including a fine up to $250,000.

Madrid-Varela pleaded guilty with a plea agreement and will face up to 36 to 57 months in prison.