Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Unauthorized Aliens

FARGO – Rodolfo Arzola-Carrillo, a Mexican National residing in Tifton, Georgia, pled guilty Thursday in Federal Court in Fargo to the offense of Conspiracy to Transport Unauthorized Aliens.

Arzola-Carriloo was sentenced to 18 months in Federal Prison, one-year supervised release and $100.00 Special Assessment.

An investigation determined that Rodolfo Arzola-Carrillo conspired, coordinated, and partially carried out the smuggling of a group of seven undocumented noncitizens from Mexico, including two minor children, across the United States - Canada border into North Dakota and down to Georgia in November 2022. The plan fell apart when weather conditions deteriorated, putting lives at risk. The harsh temperature, snow, and wind caused the group to seek assistance from the Pembina County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to aid all nine individuals and then alerted U.S. Border Patrol.

“As this case and others have shown, attempting to smuggle human beings across the northern border is not just illegal and exploitative, it is also a threat to human life,” United States Attorney Mac Schneider said. “The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue working with the U.S. Border Patrol and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold smugglers accountable, maintain the rule of law, and keep people safe.”

Arzola-Carrillo’s co-defendant, Ernesto Falcon Jr., is set for a change-of-plea and sentence hearing on August 21, 2023.