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- Miguel Angel Chay Tiguila was arrested for allegedly smuggling people in the United States.
- Tiguila was stopped with seven passengers, including teens, in Grand County.
- Passengers, who police say were in the country without permission, claimed they were unaware of their work destination details.
MOAB — A man who was pulled over in Grand County on Wednesday with seven adults and teens in his vehicle is being accused of smuggling them.
Miguel Angel Chay Tiguila, 30, was booked into the Grand County Jail for investigation of three counts of aggravated human smuggling and four counts of human smuggling.
Tiguila's vehicle, which police say had a large crack in the front windshield, was pulled over and Tiguila told sheriff's deputies he was traveling to New York for work. There were seven passengers in his vehicle, according to a police booking affidavit.
"He reported only six other people were in the vehicle, reported he only knew the other occupants from work, did not know the passengers' names, denied being paid to transport the other occupants, reported that he was in the United States illegally and gave consent to search the vehicle," the affidavit states.
The passengers included four adults and three teenagers, ages 16 and 17.
"All other occupants eventually disclosed that they were also in the United States illegally. Some passengers stated that they were going to Denver, some said only Colorado, none said New York. The passengers all indicated that they would be working at their destination, but were told they would learn the type of work when they arrived. The majority of passengers stated that they believed Miguel would be paid by someone at their destination for transporting them," the affidavit alleges.
None of the passengers had phones or luggage. Tiguila allegedly claimed that the two phones found in the vehicle were both his.
"Based on the investigation conducted thus far, Miguel was transporting the occupants for a commercial purpose, knowing or having reason to know that the individual or individuals transported or to be transported are not within the U.S. legally. Additionally, Miguel was transporting the juveniles, not accompanied by any family members older than 18, with the intent to deliver them to a worksite at an unknown location, for an unknown labor purpose," the affidavit says.
