Marine arrested on suspicion of human smuggling

CAMP PENDLETON — A Camp Pendleton Marine was arrested on Christmas Day on suspicion of smuggling immigrants into the San Diego backcountry, according to a federal complaint filed Monday.

Angel Morales Gaitan was arrested just after 1 p.m. Saturday in Campo.

A Border Patrol agent who was in an unmarked car said a Kia Optima was driving “suspiciously,” and its driver appeared to not know where he was going, the complaint states.

The agent called for a marked car to make a traffic stop, and two people were found in the car’s back seat, apparently trying to hide, the complaint states. Morales was arrested on suspicion of transporting undocumented immigrants.

Morales told law enforcement he was hired after responding to an Instagram advertisement for drivers, offering $1,000 per trip, the complaint says. He told agents he was to drive the couple to Los Angeles.

The two migrants, Mexican nationals, told authorities they had climbed the border fence using a rope and were directed to a pickup location north of the border, according to the complaint. The migrants were being held as material witnesses in Morales’ criminal prosecution.

Morales is assigned to 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, according to Lt. Col. Roger Hollenbeck, a 1st Marine Division spokesperson. Hollenbeck said Morales’ rank, age and length of service were not immediately available.

Instagram did not immediately respond to questions about the purported advertisement.

This is not the first time Marines from Camp Pendleton have been embroiled in accusations related to human smuggling.

The 2019 arrest of two Marines near Jacumba Hot Springs who had immigrants in their vehicle kicked off a wide-ranging investigation into smuggling and drug offenses in the 1st Marine Division. Three weeks after those arrests, military law enforcement agents arrested 16 more Marines at Camp Pendleton, with the entire 800-person 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment watching on in formation.

The stunt, captured on video by the division’s communication strategy office, was later ruled illegal by a Marine Corps judge. Military prosecutors went on to drop charges against many of those arrested, and their cases were handled administratively. At least 13 were separated from the Marines. Six pleaded guilty to smuggling or drug charges at court-martial, the Marines said at the time.