Phoenix, AZ – Eighteen individuals associated with a Yuma-based human smuggling ring have been charged with transporting immigrants lacking legal status into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced Friday. The group, part of a smuggling organization known as La Mesa, worked for the Mexico-based criminal organization Los Rusos, according to authorities.
The group is accused of smuggling immigrants across the border and further into the U.S. The alleged leader, 24-year-old Carlos Moreno-Serrano, along with 17 others, were involved in scouting, organizing smuggling operations, running stash houses, and paying drivers.
Charged Members Include:
- Victor Eduardo Araiza-Ponce, 24
- Antonio Aparicio III, 24
- Alex Chiquete, 25
- Crystobal Figueroa, 23
- Francisco Javier Esparza-Macias, 21
- Alonzo Esparza, 27
- Elian Lopez, 24
- David Leon-Pallanes, 23
- Joshua Guillermo Leon-Fuentes, 21
- Jose Gabriel Marquez-Mendiola, 32
- Carlos Moreno-Serrano, 24
- Xasiel Noriega-Gonzalez, 21
- Hector Eduardo-Valdez, 31
- Saul Ponce Jr., 23
- Raymundo Delgado-Diaz, 35
- Isreal Zeveda, 23
- Angel Rodriguez, 23
- Manuel Uriel Alvarado, 26
The indictment charges the members with conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants, harboring immigrants for profit, and conspiracy to transport immigrants. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
The charges stem from several arrests made by U.S. Border Patrol agents, revealing that La Mesa adapted its smuggling operations after some of its drivers were detained, moving smaller groups of immigrants to southern California. The group is also accused of violence, including kidnapping and assaulting members in retaliation for arrests.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Field Intelligence Unit, along with El Centro and Indio Border Patrol.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
