David Alfonso Barrera Nunes, 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. The sentence was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California on September 4, 2026.

The incident occurred on November 14, 2025, when U.S. Border Patrol agents received information about a small vessel traveling north from Mexico toward Imperial Beach. Dense fog prevented an initial interception. The vessel later capsized in the surf, and authorities recovered four bodies from the water. A fifth victim was found several days later and was identified as the vessel’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 experienced repeated failures. He 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 and capsize approximately 200 yards from the coast.

Federal authorities said Nunes left the water and did not attempt to rescue the passengers after the vessel overturned. He pleaded guilty to federal charges involving bringing aliens into the United States resulting in death and for financial gain. The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard.