Captains of Boat That Capsized Near San Diego Plead Guilty to 4 Deaths

Knut Johnson, Partner at Singleton Schreiber LLP, was featured by The New York Times in an article titled Captains of Boat That Capsized Near San Diego Plead Guilty to 4 Deaths, published on April 14, 2026.

Johnson represents defendant Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna in a federal criminal matter involving a fatal migrant smuggling boat capsizing off the Southern California coast. The case concerns plea agreements entered by two defendants accused of piloting the vessel that overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach.

The article examines the criminal prosecution arising from the May 2025 tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of four migrants, including two children. It also addresses sentencing exposure, federal human smuggling charges resulting in death, and prior public comments made by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the case.

“This case is a tragedy made worse by former Secretary Kristi Noem’s unprofessional and unwarranted comments,” Johnson said. “Without her interference, this case would have concluded months ago, bringing more timely closure to the victims’ families.”