On March 11, 1947, two United States Immigration Service officers were patrolling the Mexican border region in the Mojave Desert near Indio, California, when they stopped a vehicle driven by Carlos Ochoa and carrying three Mexican nationals. The three Mexicans were transferred to the officers’ vehicle and Ochoa was directed to drive his car, with the officers following, to Indio.
As the two vehicles traveled, Ochoa feigned car problems and pulled over. When the officers came to his aid, he pulled a gun and shot and killed Officer Anthony Oneto and wounded Officer John Foquette.
Ochoa was on probation for human smuggling at the time of the murder.
At trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Ochoa admitted committing the murder and claimed insanity. He was convicted and sentenced to death.
Ochoa’s conviction was affirmed on appeal and he was executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on December 10, 1948.
The Federal Death Penalty Project 