55 Charged in Federal Probe Targeting Large Scale Human Smuggling Network

Family-run ring suspected of bringing thousands of illegal aliens into Arizona TUCSON Federal and local law enforcement fanned out across southern Arizona and several other states early this morning searching for over 50 people allegedly linked to a far-reaching human smuggling organization that brought large numbers of illegal aliens into the United States across remote eastern sections of Arizonas international border. Arrests are also being sought in New Mexico, California, Minnesota, and Ohio. The enforcement action caps a two-year probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Cochise County Sheriffs Office, into a family-run human smuggling ring based in the tiny Arizona town of Bowie. The Willcox Police Department also assisted and participated in this mornings operation. Other agencies that supported this investigation include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Graham County Sheriffs Office, Greenlee County Sheriffs Office, and the Bureau of Land Management. The arrests come less than three weeks after a grand jury in Tucson handed down a sealed indictment naming 55 suspects for their involvement in the scheme see attached list. The alleged violations include alien smuggling and money laundering. Among those named in the indictment are the smuggling organizations suspected ringleader, Pablo Esteban Juarez, 31, aka Stevie, and his wife Lori Juarez, 30. The other defendants are alleged to have played a variety of roles in the scheme, ranging from enforcers, individuals paid to protect the leadership, guard proceeds, and prevent illegal aliens from leaving drop houses without approval; guides, individuals hired to walk illegal aliens across the Mexico border in to the US; drivers, individuals paid to transport illegal aliens to Bowie and then on to Phoenix, Arizona; and money runners, individuals paid to pick up smuggling fees. At a press conference in Tucson this afternoon, representatives from the United States Attorneys Office, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, and Cochise County Sheriffs Office, detailed how the smuggling organization, which catered primarily to Mexicans and Central Americans, operated. According to federal authorities the ring had a monthly contract with people in Aqua Prieta, Mexico to solicit individuals wanting to be smuggled into the U.S. Aliens would be briefly housed in Aqua Prieta prior to their crossing. Guides would cross the aliens through the desert to a predetermined location along Highway 80. Drivers would pick them up on Highway 80, north of Douglas, and take them to Bowie. Each alien would be charged between $500 and $800 for the Aqua Prieta to Bowie leg. Once in Bowie, they were charged more money to travel from Bowie to their final destination. Aliens would be held in Bowie until smuggling fees from family members or alien smuggling brokers were received. Transportation to Phoenix, Arizona, and other destinations throughout the United States would then be coordinated with the organization. Paul K. Charlton, US Attorney for the District of Arizona, said, This was not just any family business. The Juarez family led a network of individuals, stretching across southern Arizona and well into Mexico. This network organized, housed, fed, guided and transported large numbers of illegal aliens across the border. Due to their criminal enterprise, Bowie became a major staging area for the movement of illegal aliens to the Phoenix hub, and onward to destinations throughout the United States. Thanks to outstanding coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, we have effectively dismantled and brought to justice a major smuggling organization. For aliens destined for cities outside Arizona, those fees could run as high as $2,000 each. According to the indictment, the criminal organization received most of its smuggling fees in the form of wire transfers. In an effort to avoid arousing suspicion, the defendants allegedly recruited money runners to pick up the wired funds at the Western Union offices in the area. FBI, Phoenix, Special Agent in Charge, John E. Lewis stated, The result of this investigation was the dismantlement of an international organized criminal enterprise. Alien smuggling enterprises, such as this one, present our country with many issues to include clandestine terrorist travel and human trafficking. First, these organizations care only about the money they are being paid, they do not concern themselves with who they are smuggling into our country, nor the motives of those individuals which could leave us vulnerable to another 9/11 attack. Secondly, many individuals cross our borders illegally after being promised a better life, only to find themselves exploited by those paying their smuggling fees. The security of our borders and the fight against criminal atrocities such as human trafficking cannot be undertaken by one agency. Our successes in these matters are dependent upon personal relationships and our ability to work together. As with other similar organized criminal enterprises, drugs and violence played a role. Many of the individuals employed by the ring were paid with narcotics. Some defendants possessed firearms to protect themselves and their proceeds, and to threaten and menace illegal aliens being smuggled so they would follow directions and pay smuggling fees. This investigation has led to the break up of one of the longest standing family-owned human smuggling organizations operating in eastern Arizona and it wouldnt have happened without the extraordinary efforts of all of the agencies involved, said Alonzo Peña, the Special Agent in Charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona. The defendants mistakenly believed their remote location would keep them off of our radar screen, but as they found out, in Arizona, human smugglers can't escape being brought to justice. Most of the suspects arrested during todays operation are expected to make their initial appearance in federal court here at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. A conviction for alien smuggling conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, the judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution is being handled by Irene C. Feldman, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.