http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/br ... tory/27511

26 illegal immigrants deported in two days
By Michael Maresh, Roundup staff reporter

Thursday, February 22, 2007

The Gila County Sheriff's deputies arrested two Georgia men for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.

Kevin Perez Lopez, 36, of Norcross, Ga., and Milton DeLeon Ramirez, 23, of Atlanta, Ga., were arrested for human smuggling after a GCSO deputy conducted a traffic stop at 1:20 p.m. Friday.

Deputy Dennis Newman, a highway interdiction officer, who is a member of the Gila County Drug Task Force, was on patrol near Deer Creek on Highway 87 when he conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Expedition.

GCSO Lt. Tim Scott said as Newman approached the vehicle, he saw a bunch of heads pop up in the back seat of the Expedition.

Nineteen people were crammed into the vehicle.

Scott said another nine illegal immigrants were apprehended at about 11 p.m. the next day at the Buckhead Mesa Landfill, between Pine and Payson on Highway 87.

Scott said apprehending 26 illegal immigrants in two days is an uncommon occurrence for the Rim Country.