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Co-pilot of capsized smuggling boat sentenced to prison

David Alfonso Barrera Nunez was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for his role in a smuggling attempt that killed five people.

2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 5, 2026, 1:47 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 5, 2026, 1:52 a.m. ET
Developing · checked 19h ago

This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Sep 5, 2026, 2:09 a.m. ET — checked 19h ago.

David Alfonso Barrera Nunez, 38, a Mexican national, was on September 4, 2026, in to , according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. He had been charged with smuggling immigrants for financial gain and smuggling resulting in death. The case was investigated by U.S. Border Patrol. The sentence was imposed after he was convicted; the specific charges and the conduct alleged were reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 5, 2026, 1:47 a.m. ETFirst report

    Co-pilot of capsized smuggling boat sentenced to prison

    David Alfonso Barrera Nunez, 38, a Mexican national, was sentenced on September 4, 2026, in San Diego federal court to four years and nine months in federal prison, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. He had been charged with smuggling immigrants for financial gain and smuggling resulting in death.

    The government said Barrera Nunez co-piloted a smuggling boat that capsized, killing five people. The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. The charges were allegations, and Barrera Nunez was presumed innocent until the sentencing, which resolves the matter.

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Revision history

  1. Version 15 Sept 2026, 05:47current

    First published.

  2. Version 15 Sept 2026, 05:52current

    First published.

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