The two leaders of a Mexican human smuggling ring were sentenced in federal court on Wednesday.
The group is linked to smuggling hundreds of undocumented immigrants into Arizona from Central America.
Investigators said the extremely dangerous group would pack dozens of migrants into an SUV and actively try to run from law enforcement.
In 2009, investigators said they were responsible for a rollover crash in southern Arizona, in which 27 undocumented immigrants were crammed into an SUV. Ten of the people inside the vehicle were killed.
The head of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Douglas said these groups would constantly try to out run law enforcement.
"Sometimes that resulted in putting the public in danger, law enforcement and even the immigrants in danger. So, our ability to impact that and make the community safer is one of the things I’m most proud of having accomplished," said ASAC Carlos Archuleta, of the HSI Douglas office.
Fidel Mancinas-Franco and Juan Villela-Lopez both received approximately 10 years in prison.
HSI used its partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office and Board Patrol to help get the smugglers off the streets.
