Man Charged In Smuggling Attempt That Led To 3 Dead Off OB Shore

SAN DIEGO, CA — A Santa Barbara man who allegedly arranged a human smuggling attempt that led to the drowning deaths of three migrants near the Ocean Beach Pier made his initial appearance in a federal courtroom Thursday, where he faces federal charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Faustino Romero De La Cruz, 40, is accused of coordinating the transportation of more than 10 migrants from Mexico to the United States in a boat that ended up capsizing on April 10, 2022.

In a news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Romero De La Cruz "collected thousands of dollars in smuggling fees" in exchange for smuggling people into the U.S.

He was arrested in Santa Barbara on Wednesday and made his initial appearance in a San Diego federal courtroom on Thursday afternoon.

"Too many precious lives are needlessly lost in catastrophic incidents like this one," said San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in a statement. "Case after case demonstrates that smugglers are more interested in maximizing profits than safety, which all too often leads to tragic results."

— City News Service