Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

United States of America v. José Ángel Del Villar

Date: 08-15-2025

Case Number: 22-MJ-02255

Judge: Bernard G. Skomal

Court: The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Los Angeles

Defendant's Attorney:

Click Here For The Best San Diego, California Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory



Description:

San Diego, California criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.


Latin Music Conglomerate CEO Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Doing Business with Drug Cartel-Linked Concert Promoter







Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 85 border-related cases this week, including charges of assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.



The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world's busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America's eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico's second largest city).



In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.



A sample of border-related arrests this week:





On August 8, Luanna Astiazaran, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the defendant applied for admission to the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Customs and Border Protection officers found an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala hiding in the rear right quarter panel. The woman had to be extracted from the vehicle and needed medical assistance.



On August 9, Emmanuel Ramirez Santiago, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, the defendant attempted to cross through the San Ysidro Port of Entry when a canine detection dog alerted underneath the driver's side tailgate area of his Toyota Tacoma. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 162 packages containing 203 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle.



On August 10, Juan Hernandez-Diaz, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted the defendant as he walked through the brush, approximately four miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and six miles north of the United Sates/Mexico International boundary. He had previously been deported in May from Brownsville, Texas.



Pursuant to the Department's Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.



The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Feder
Outcome:

4 Years in Federal Prison






Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:

About This Case

What was the outcome of United States of America v. José Ángel Del Villar?

The outcome was: 4 Years in Federal Prison

Which court heard United States of America v. José Ángel Del Villar?

This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego County), CA. The presiding judge was Bernard G. Skomal.

Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. José Ángel Del Villar?

Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Los Angeles. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best San Diego, California Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.

When was United States of America v. José Ángel Del Villar decided?

This case was decided on August 15, 2025.