Commercial vehicle driver could face life in prison for crash death of migrant

A Texas truck driver has been indicted on serious charges related to the death of a migrant who was ejected in a crash that occurred in Arizona over the summer.

On October 30, 2024, Moises Gabriel Castillo, 39, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and four counts of Transportation of Illegal Aliens, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

“All five charges allege that the offenses were committed for financial gain, placed in jeopardy the life of any person, caused serious bodily injury, and resulted in death,” officials said.

The criminal complaint states that on July 24, 2024, Castillo was operating a commercial semi truck on I-10 in Tucson when he rear-ended another semi truck, causing “Castillo’s semi-truck to skid down I-10.”

An adult male passenger was ejected and he died at the scene.

Police later found three other individuals hiding in the brush near the crash site.

Law enforcement determined that all the deceased passenger and the three individuals found in the brush were “undocumented noncitizens without permission to be present in the United States.” Two of the surviving individuals required surgery for their injuries.

“A conviction for either Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death or Transportation of Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.