An Alabama man tied to a transnational smuggling ring was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after admitting his role in moving hundreds of illegal migrants and endangering lives.
An Alabama resident received a 96-month prison term following a federal conviction for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens that officials say put people in grave danger. Prosecutors tied him to a criminal network operating across multiple states and into Mexico, and the sentence reflects the scale and recklessness of the scheme.
Court records identify the defendant as Joel Contreras Jr., 33, of Albertville, Alabama, who was named a member of the Guzman Transnational Criminal Organization, or Guzman TCO. Authorities described the Guzman TCO as active in Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mexico, with direct connections to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).
Investigators say the organization trafficked weapons and narcotics while organizing large-scale human smuggling runs into the United States. From May 2021 through June 1, 2022, Contreras allegedly communicated with other conspirators, including the Guzman TCO leader, about transport plans and drop-off points.
The case that led to his arrest began with a routine traffic stop on May 9, 2022, when Texas Department of Public Safety troopers noticed an unusual vehicle condition. Officers observed the rear quarter panel sitting low, with little clearance between the tire and wheel well, prompting a closer look that revealed hidden occupants inside the vehicle.
Troopers found multiple people concealed under blankets in the second row and in the hatch area, later identified as illegal aliens Contreras had picked up at an Eagle Pass gas station. According to the record, the transports were for pay, with Contreras expecting $500 per person upon delivery to either Houston or San Antonio.
State charges for smuggling that alleged a likelihood of serious bodily injury or death were filed but later dismissed, while federal authorities continued to pursue the larger conspiracy. Contreras was arrested again in September 2024 in Marshall County, Alabama, on alleged forgery and obstruction of justice charges, and his cooperation soon widened the probe.
While in custody after the September arrest, he admitted involvement in the Guzman TCO and detailed multiple smuggling events, according to prosecutors. A search of his phone produced photos, contact numbers, and geolocation pin drops that law enforcement says corroborated his role in the TCO’s operations.
Contreras was transferred to ICE custody on Nov. 22, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Feb. 18, 2025, to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. He is the first of 14 defendants charged in the sprawling case to be sentenced, which prosecutors have presented as a major disruption to a multi-state criminal enterprise.
Authorities estimate the Guzman TCO moves between 50 and 100 illegal aliens per month through the Western District of Texas, and they have attributed more than 1,000 successful smuggling events and roughly 400 failed attempts to the organization to date. In total, Contreras was held accountable for the smuggling of 655 illegal aliens.
Investigative work on the case involved ICE Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the FBI, and the prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner. Federal officials framed the effort as part of a larger initiative to dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people and threaten public safety.
The prosecution highlighted the dangers inherent in hidden, overcrowded transports and the profit motive that drives smugglers to take extreme risks. Sentencing in this case sends a message about federal priorities when smuggling networks operate across state lines and with ties to violent cartels.
