Former police detective sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for human smuggling operation

A former Arizona police detective was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants for a human smuggling organization, according to the Justice Department.

Hazel Eileen Diaz, 54, rented out multiple properties she owned in Eagle Pass to "assist in harboring undocumented non-citizens between September 2020 and August 2021," the department announced Wednesday, citing court documents. 

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said in the announcement that Diaz would often travel to the properties where the migrants were being held to collect rent payments.

The agency said that an investigation revealed about 200 migrants were "smuggled by the group for which Diaz worked and that she had received about $36,916 in cash and money service business transfers, "much of which were proceeds from human smuggling." 

Diaz had $23,522 in cash in her possession when arrested. 

In addition to the prison time, Diaz was sentenced to three years of supervised release and required to pay a $10,000 fine as well as a money judgement of $237,600. She also must forfeit three of her properties, a truck the cash she had at the time of arrest.

Others connected to the smuggling operation were previously arrested, including Tomas Alejandro Mendez, who is scheduled for sentencing in January and Paola Nikole Cazares, who was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2023 to 63 months in jail.