BP fingerprint checks lead to arrests

July 11, 2008

By Jonathon Shacat
Wick News Service



BISBEE — U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Tucson Sector have made three significant arrests in recent days as a result of fingerprint checks in Naco, Willcox and Douglas, according to the agency’s public information office.

On Wednesday, Naco agents arrested a member of the MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gang out of Los Angeles with a prior prison record.

He served two years in prison for selling marijuana in California.

On Tuesday, Willcox agents arrested a man identified as Hugo Alberto Godinez Gomez of San Carlos, Guanajuato, Mexico.

He had previously been convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 18.

He is being held pending prosecution, and removal proceedings have been initiated.

On Monday, Douglas agents arrested a man identified as Manuel Escobar Ortega from Mexico. Advertisement

Excobar was arrested by the Carol Stream, Ill., police department on charges of harboring a runaway, resisting a peace officer, domestic battery and criminal sexual abuse.

Escobar was convicted of obstructing justice in Illinois Circuit Court, and sentenced to 33 days in jail and 24 months probation.

He is a documented Sureno 13 gang member.

He is being held pending prosecution and removal proceedings.

Criminal background inquiries investigated by Tucson Sector agents have led to the discovery of more than 38,000 cases of prior criminal convictions in illegal immigrants apprehended between Oct. 1, 2007, and June 30, according to the agency.



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