PHOENIX — A Mexican national living in Arizona was arrested this week on federal charges after allegedly employing at least a dozen undocumented immigrants at multiple taco shops across the Valley and housing several of them at his residences, officials announced Friday.
Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, was taken into custody without incident at his home in Laveen on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. During the arrest, federal agents found three firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the home — items he was prohibited from possessing due to his immigration status.
Angulo was in the United States without legal permission at the time of the arrest. Authorities said this is not his first encounter with U.S. immigration enforcement. He previously entered the country illegally in 2011, returned to Mexico voluntarily in 2021, and is believed to have reentered unlawfully at some point afterward.
What led to the arrest?
Federal investigators allege that Angulo was running several taco restaurants in the Phoenix area and was knowingly employing undocumented workers, in violation of federal labor and immigration laws. At least 12 undocumented immigrants were identified as working in his establishments, with some reportedly living in his personal residence or at another property he maintained near 16th Avenue.
Authorities executed search warrants at both homes and the businesses, where they encountered multiple individuals without legal status or employment authorization. Two of those individuals had previously been deported, including one who had been removed from the U.S. in February 2013 and another as recently as October 2024.
Federal operation and legal proceedings
The arrest and investigation are part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative aimed at dismantling illegal employment networks, particularly those that exploit undocumented workers.
Angulo made his initial court appearance on Friday. Additional charges related to illegal reentry, unlawful employment, and firearm possession may follow as the case develops.
Federal prosecutors have not yet said whether further arrests or charges are expected.
The investigation remains ongoing.
