Feds Bust Leader of Human Smuggling Ring Bringing Migrants to NYC

Prosecutors charge 27-year-old Dominican man who conspired to illegally transport dozens of migrants, including children, across the northern border to New York City.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Prosecutors have charged Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado, a 27-year-old migrant from the Dominican Republic, as the leader of an international human smuggling ring that conspired to illegally bring dozens of migrants, including young children, across the northern border from Canada into northern Vermont. From there, the migrants were then transported to New York City and other locations in the U.S. by members of the 70-person trafficking group.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal border crossings and human smuggling operations targeting the northern U.S. border, as well as the significant costs to taxpayers in cities like New York that end up shouldering the burden of providing welfare and other services for the influx of migrants.

The details

According to court filings, Luna Rosado's 70-member trafficking group sought to bring at least 48 illegal immigrants, including young children, from Central and South America into northern Vermont after they were flown into southern Canada. The migrants would then be picked up by Jesus Hernandez Ortiz, 37, of Puerto Rico, and other members of the group to be transported "to New York City and beyond." On September 17, 2023, Ortiz was stopped by law enforcement while transporting a dozen illegal immigrants, including a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, in the back of a Home Depot van at 4 a.m. near the northern border.

  • Between August 2022 and March 2024, the smuggling operation was active.
  • On September 17, 2023, Ortiz was stopped by law enforcement while transporting illegal immigrants near the northern border.
  • From 2024 to 2025, northern border crossings saw a 95% drop, falling from 12,085 in November 2024 to 4,098 in February 2025.
  • In fiscal year 2023, 189,402 migrants were arrested on the northern U.S. border, up from 109,535 in 2022 and 27,180 in 2021.

The players

Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado

A 27-year-old migrant from the Dominican Republic who was the leader of the international human smuggling ring.

Jesus Hernandez Ortiz

A 37-year-old man from Puerto Rico who was a member of the 70-person trafficking group and was responsible for transporting the illegal immigrants from the northern border to New York City and beyond.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“he had picked these people up in a Canadian field and that he did not know who they were”

— Jesus Hernandez Ortiz (United States District Court for the District of Vermont)

What’s next

Ortiz is expected to make an initial appearance in a Burlington, Vermont, federal courtroom on Feb. 17. Prosecutors have asked courts to order both Ortiz and Luna Rosado detained pending trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal border crossings and human smuggling operations targeting the northern U.S. border, as well as the significant costs to taxpayers in cities like New York that end up shouldering the burden of providing welfare and other services for the influx of migrants.