SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 114 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here .
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
On September 20, Sebastian Ulises Galeana Pierce, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 74 pounds of cocaine hidden beneath his feet on the driver’s side of his 2021 Toyota RAV4 as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On September 18, Daniel Herriberto Vega Laura, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 58 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 grams of fentanyl concealed in the quarter panels of the trunk, center console, and engine firewall of the 2025 Chevrolet Aveo the defendant was driving as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On September 23, Fernando Contreras Santiago, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, the defendant arrived at the Campo Border Patrol Station’s Immigration Checkpoint. During the immigration inspection, Agents observed movement on the floorboard of the backseat beneath what appeared to be plastic. Before agents could further inspect the vehicle, the defendant fled the checkpoint at a high rate of speed, striking a Vehicle Immobilization Device, which is designed to stop or disable a vehicle typically by damaging or obstructing its tires. The vehicle then lost control, struck a light post, and all occupants fled on foot. Agents subsequently located two Mexican individuals who were illegally present in the United States and had been passengers in the vehicle driven by the defendant. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Southern District of California — U.S. Department of Justice press release.