2 charged with causing drowning deaths of 2 illegal immigrants off San Diego

2 charged with Calif. smuggling deaths

SAN DIEGO — Two men have been charged with causing the deaths of two illegal immigrants who drowned when a boat capsized as it tried to reach a San Diego beach.

A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted 50-year-old Fernando Figueroa-Rodriguez and 45-year-old Javier Jimenez-Yucupicio. The 30-count indictment charges them with smuggling illegal immigrants resulting in death.

Authorities say a San Diego police officer heard screams from Torrey Pines State Beach shortly after 4 a.m. on Jan. 16 and saw people trying to swim ashore from an overturned, 30-foot wooden boat.

U.S. attorney’s office spokeswoman Linda Frakes says a 34-year-old Mexican man and an 18-year-old Guatemalan woman drowned. She says 16 others were found safe.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack says as many as 10 others on the boat escaped.