The boat captain who piloted a vessel that broke apart off Point Loma in 2021 killing three people pleaded guilty on April 6 to three counts of attempted human smuggling resulting in death and financial gain.
Antonio Hurtado, 40, a U.S. citizen from San Diego, also pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer after his May 2, 2021 arrest in which his knee struck the head of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was about to place leg shackles on him.
Hurtado could receive a life sentence in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 1 by U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino.
New details emerged from his guilty pleas after Hurtado admitted he was under the influence of unlawful drugs during the smuggling venture in which he lost consciousness. The boat drove in circles for more than an hour until the people on board were able to wake him up.
“Never trust a smuggler. They care only about money,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in a statement. “They care nothing for your safety. It’s not worth risking your life.”
“The defendant’s boat was packed with way too many people, and he then repeatedly used illicit drugs to the point of losing consciousness,” said Grossman.
Maria Eugenia Chavez-Segovia, 41, Victor Perez-DeGollado, 29, and Maricela Hernandez-Sanchez, 35, all drowned, but all of them also received blunt force head injuries as a result of the boat breaking up, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office.
There were 33 people on board the boat before it began to break up around 6 a.m. When it began to list on its side, Hurtado jumped in the water and swam to shore, leaving the people to fend for themselves.
A massive rescue operation took place from eight agencies.
“That unscrupulous smugglers put lives in danger to support their criminal activity is reprehensible,” said Chad Plantz, special agent for Homeland Security Investigations San Diego.
“These deaths could have been prevented were it not for this individual concerned more for his own greed rather than the safety of others,” said Plantz.
Hurtado had been set for trial on May 3. He remains in a federal detention facility without bail.
