By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The Homeland Security Task Force said seven individuals from Guatemala living illegally in the United States were sentenced for smuggling illegal immigrants across the Mexican border and helping them travel to states across the country, including Oklahoma.
Authorities said the leader of the operation, Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez, coordinated with the six other defendants to transport illegal immigrants originally from countries in Central America, South America and Asia into the United States for a fee beginning around Oct. 2021 through April 2025.
According to court documents, Cidia would use social media to coordinate payment to accomplices in Guatemala who would drive individuals seeking to enter the U.S. from Guatemala to Mexico.
Law enforcement said these individuals would stay in Mexico until they were able to illegally cross the border into the United States.
Authorities said the illegal immigrants would then meet with drivers who would transport them to stash houses in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
Investigators said Cidia admitted to organizing these drivers and stash house operators, stating the drivers collected payment under her direction.
According to an indictment filed in April 2025, these illegal immigrants would pay $5,000 to be smuggled into the United States.
Authorities said the money collected from these illegal immigrants was directed into bank accounts able to be accessed by Cidia and others, with investigators stating Cidia admitted to using these funds to buy vehicles and real estate.
Law enforcement said Cidia also forfeited all interest and property within two different homes located in Oklahoma City and at three different properties in Sequoyah County.
The defendants listed below received the following sentences for Conspiracy to Bring and Transport Aliens in the United States Illegally for Private Financial Gain:
- Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez (40), living in Charlotte, North Carolina — Sentenced to two years and nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- Ottoniel Castro Argueta (33), living in Charlotte, North Carolina — Sentenced to four years and three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- Veronica Maribel Lima Lopez (34), living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Sentenced to a year and one day in prison followed by a year of supervised release.
- Ariz Obdulio Argueta (30), living in Clarksville, Arkansas — Sentenced to time served after spending April 2025 through March 2026 in jail. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
- Pedro Cucul Gualna (26), living in Sallisaw, Oklahoma — Sentenced to time served after spending April 2025 through April 2026 in jail. He was also sentenced to a year of supervised release.
- Carlos Enrique Ramos Caal (31), living in Flagstaff, Arizona — Sentenced to time served after spending April 2025 through March 2026 in jail. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release.
The final defendant, 21-year-old Cesar Rodolfo Garcia Argueta who lived in Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced for an Attempt to Bring an Alien to the United States Illegally for Private Financial Gain charge.
He was sentenced to time served after spending April 2025 through March 2026 in jail. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Authorities stated all seven defendants had been living in the United States illegally, explaining each defendant is expected to be deported after removal proceedings following their sentences.
