Tennessee Illegal Alien Indicted In Massive Human Smuggling & Money Laundering Ring

Image Credit: Hip Lebanon / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

A multiagency government operation has resulted in the bust of a transnational alien smuggling and money laundering ring, with a Tennessee illegal alien indicted amongst those charged.

According to reports, the international criminal organization allegedly smuggled thousands of Cuban nationals into the U.S. through a sham business called “Asesoria Y Servicios Migratorios LLC” using social media and encrypted messaging apps to advertise fraudulent visa services.

Between January 2021 and June 2025, the organization allegedly funneled over $18 million by charging the aliens between $1,500 and $40,000 for services. They utilized fake visa applications and other forged identification documents, including promising entry into the U.S. through false claims of European citizenship. 

And adults were not the only targets of the scheme. Per the Department of Justice (DOJ), the organization also smuggled unaccompanied minors who were instructed to comply with unscrupulous actions to cross the border. One teenage girl was instructed to pose as a “lifelong friend” of an unrelated man to gain entry. 

Further, the ring is accused of acting as a front for fake asylum claims, creating false applications without the consent of their clients’ knowledge and then blocking them from accessing their own immigration accounts.

Of 12 individuals now facing federal charges, 10 reside in Florida with several being confirmed illegal aliens. One conspirator arrested resides in Texas and another is labeled as “unlawfully residing” in Lebanon, TN. 

The charges include:

• Conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain
• Alien smuggling
• Conspiracy to commit asylum fraud
• Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments

The investigation was led by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a specialized partnership between the DOJ and Department of Homeland Security dedicated to eliminating human smuggling and trafficking networks and protecting national borders.

“This superseding indictment exposes the depth of a multi-year conspiracy of alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering that preyed on vulnerable individuals and weakened public trust in the immigration system,” said Acting Director Todd M. Lyons of ICE.

Numerous local agencies also participated in the investigation including HIS Tampa, the Miami Sector of Border Patrol, USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security, and support from law enforcement partners in the Cayman Islands.

Chief Jeffrey J. Dinise of Miami Border Patrol stated, “The message is clear, the United States is closed to illegal immigration and terrorist organizations, and those that make an attempt will be met with fierce consequences.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently announced the expansion of JTFA to include districts along the northern and maritime borders and additional resources along the southern border in states like California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. JTFA will also deepen partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies and add new partnerships with the FBI, DEA, and ATF.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will now consult with JTFA on all significant human smuggling and trafficking matters to ensure all available resources are utilized for the highest priority cases.

“We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people—including many unaccompanied children—face severe, comprehensive justice,” said Bondi.

This JTFA case is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s larger Operation Take Back America, a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration and transnational crime.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.