SAN DIEGO, California — A 38-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role as the pilot of a small smuggling boat that capsized off Imperial Beach, California, resulting in the deaths of five undocumented immigrants.
David Alfonso Barrera Nunes was sentenced after pleading guilty to federal charges related to bringing undocumented immigrants into the United States for financial gain, resulting in death. The sentence was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California on September 4, 2026.
Boat Capsized in Heavy Surf
The incident occurred on November 14, 2025, after U.S. Border Patrol agents received information about a small vessel traveling north from Mexico toward Imperial Beach.
Dense fog initially prevented authorities from intercepting the boat. The vessel later entered the surf zone and capsized. Authorities recovered four bodies from the water, while a fifth victim was found several days later and identified as the boat’s co-pilot.
According to Nunes’ April 2026 plea agreement, the vessel was carrying nine undocumented passengers and was powered by a single outboard engine that had experienced repeated failures.
Nunes admitted that the boat did not have enough life jackets for everyone on board. As the vessel approached the shoreline, the engine failed again, causing the boat to rotate before capsizing approximately 200 yards from the coast.
Pilot Left Passengers After Capsizing
Federal authorities said Nunes managed to reach shore after the vessel overturned but did not attempt to rescue the passengers who remained in the water.
The case involved multiple federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The fatal incident highlights the dangers associated with unseaworthy vessels used for maritime smuggling, particularly when boats operate without adequate safety equipment and with mechanical problems in challenging coastal conditions.
Nunes’ 57-month federal prison sentence follows his guilty plea to charges involving the unlawful transportation of people into the United States for financial gain and resulting in death.
