A Miami-Dade Corrections internal affairs investigation report obtained exclusively by NBC6 is shedding new light on how a man accused of causing a deadly drunk driving crash in Miami-Dade was deported before he could stand trial and how county corrections officers allegedly failed to follow protocol in the process.
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Records show Erwin Zuniga, the man charged with three counts of manslaughter among other charges in connection with a 2022 crash that killed Paola Sabillon, Jason Meza, and Giselle Reyes, was recently booked back into the Miami-Dade County jail after being returned to South Florida.
His return marks a major development in a case that has frustrated victims’ families for years after Zuniga was deported to Honduras in 2024 despite his pending criminal charges.
“I am excited. I am happy that he is finally back,” said Miriam Castillo, the sister of victim Paola Sabillon. “I feel we are getting close to the end of this long four-year fight.”
According to police, Zuniga was driving more than 100 miles per hour when he crashed into a gas station sign along West Flagler Street, killing all three passengers inside his vehicle.
Internal affairs findings
The internal affairs report, provided to NBC6 by the victims’ families, stated six Miami-Dade Corrections officers were accused of failing to follow proper procedures surrounding Zuniga’s release to federal immigration authorities.
Among the allegations, investigators say one corrections officer created a Telegram group chat on his personal cellphone to expedite communications with outside agencies. The report also accuses that officer of maintaining unauthorized communications with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding sensitive information.
The officers denied any wrongdoing during the investigation, according to the report. They also denied receiving any compensation from other agencies.
The report also includes what investigators describe as an email from ICE requesting that corrections officials coordinate a time to take Zuniga into federal custody. According to the document, the email stated ICE wanted to obtain a criminal conviction before removing him from the country but did not “see this going anywhere.”
The report adds investigators found that in July 2024, Zuniga was instructed to report to the jail under the pretense of servicing his GPS ankle monitor. Once he arrived, the monitoring device was removed, and ICE agents took him into custody, ultimately leading to his deportation to Honduras.
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Family demands accountability
For the families of the victims, Zuniga’s return is a long-awaited step toward justice, but they say questions remain about how he was allowed to leave the country before facing trial.
“To create a group chat and try to put someone out there, knowing he had a case here… to me, even if he gets deported, he’s free,” Castillo said.
NBC6 previously reported that a law enforcement source close to the investigation said Zuniga was later arrested in Spain before being returned to the United States to face the pending manslaughter charges.
Official response
On Friday, ICE reiterated Zuniga was lawfully removed pursuant to a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge.
Miami-Dade Corrections has previously acknowledged mistakes were made in the handling of the case and said several officers would face disciplinary action.
After obtaining the internal affairs report, NBC6 requested additional comment from the department regarding the investigation and its findings.
On Friday, MDCR told NBC6, “The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department is committed to maintaining the highest standards of public safety, transparency, and accountability. Any employee found to have failed to comply with established policies and procedures will be held accountable through the Department’s disciplinary process. As the administrative review of this incident remains ongoing, no additional information is available at this time.”
Zuniga remains in the Miami-Dade County jail and is expected to face trial pending manslaughter charges stemming from the 2022 crash.
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