Thread: 47 Arrested in I.C.E. Investigation

I.C.E. News Release

April 15, 2010

Commercial transportation companies implicated in sweeping ICE investigation targeting Arizona human smuggling networks

47 in criminal custody as agents execute federal search and arrest warrants statewide

PHOENIX - The owners and employees of five Arizona commercial shuttle services are among the 47 criminal suspects taken into custody following the execution of federal search and arrest warrants across the state Thursday in a far-reaching investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting the infrastructure of several major Arizona-based human smuggling organizations.

Thursday's enforcement actions are the culmination of a comprehensive year-long ICE investigation that expanded beyond its initial focus on several Tucson-based shuttle companies allegedly used by smugglers to transport thousands of illegal aliens from southern Arizona to the Phoenix area. The bi-national investigation, which included unprecedented cooperation with Mexico's Secretaria Securidad Publica (SSP), ultimately implicated high-level members of human smuggling organizations in Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales, Ariz., and northern Mexico that were serviced by the shuttle businesses.

At a news conference here Thursday afternoon, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton and Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke outlined details of the investigation, dubbed "Operation In Plain Sight" because of the brazen nature of the transportation companies' activities. Authorities characterized the case as the most comprehensive human smuggling investigation in ICE history.

"This operation has dealt a serious blow to the infrastructure of some of Arizona's most prolific and profitable human smuggling organizations - organizations that made their money by moving people," Assistant Secretary Morton said. "The defendants wrongly believed they could operate with impunity by hiding behind the veil of legitimacy these businesses provided. Using our investigative expertise, we've dismantled these transnational organizations and literally seized the engines that were driving the criminal enterprise."

"Today's indictments allege a remarkable degree of coordination among alien smuggling organizations and shuttle company operators - all of whom shared a common currency - people and money," U.S. Attorney Burke said. "According to the indictments, the defendants conspired to transport thousands of people across the border and onward to destinations throughout the United States - much of it playing out in the light of day under the guise of legitimate business."

In a massive operation, more than 800 agents and officers from nine federal, state and local law enforcement agencies mobilized Thursday morning to carry out the arrests and searches in four Arizona communities - Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales and Rio Rico. In addition, agents from Mexico's SSP have also made arrests in neighboring Nogales, Sonora, related to the case.

The search locations in Arizona included the offices of four Tucson shuttle services - Saguaro Roadrunner Shuttles, America's Shuttles, Guerro's Shuttles and Nogales Express Shuttles - and a fifth shuttle company in Phoenix, Sergio's Shuttle. According to court documents unsealed Thursday, the aliens transported by the shuttle services were given pre-printed fare receipts in the amount of $30 in an effort to make the shuttle trips appear legitimate.

The investigation revealed the smuggled aliens were transported from the border to the various shuttle companies or drop houses in Tucson. The aliens were then staged at the shuttle businesses or at the drop houses, before being taken by the shuttle vans to various locations in Phoenix. The aliens paid their smuggling fees, typically using wire transmitters like MoneyGram or Western Union, prior to departing Tucson or, in some cases, after arriving in Phoenix. Although most of the smuggled aliens identified during the investigation were from Mexico and Central America, others came from as far away as China.

The aliens' transportation beyond Tucson was handled by smuggling organizations in the Phoenix area that provided support services to human smugglers in Tucson and Nogales. Besides operating drop houses, those services included arranging transportation for the aliens to their final destinations nationwide. The national reach of the Phoenix organizations is underscored by the execution of additional arrest warrants Thursday in Tennessee.

The suspects taken into custody during the operation include most of the 44 persons named in four separate criminal indictments handed down in the case - see accompanying fact sheet for a complete list of the defendants. Those indictments charge the defendants with a variety of federal violations, including money laundering, alien smuggling and conspiracy. In addition, agents arrested seven individuals criminally based upon probable cause. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, specifically Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda in Tucson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Settel in Phoenix.

The criminal defendants arrested in Arizona are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court Friday in both Tucson and Phoenix. A conviction for conspiracy to transport and/or harbor illegal aliens carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years. In determining the actual sentences, the judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. However, the judge is not bound by those guidelines. Of those charged in the indictment, four remain at large and are still being sought.

In addition to the criminal arrests, the case indictments include criminal forfeiture allegations valued at $10 million. ICE and the U.S. Attorney's office will be seeking to seize assets - including real estate, vehicles and other property - that were derived from the criminal conspiracy. During Thursday's operation, agents seized a total of seven weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than 40 vehicles.

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.

Learn more about Operation In Plain Sight.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 15, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1004/100415phoenix.htm

Immigration agents raid Ariz. van shuttle business

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Related from Fox: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-195024.html

Apr 15, 2010

Feds bust Ariz. shuttle firms accused of smuggling illegal immigrants

05:17 PM
By Matt York, AP

In what immigration officials are calling the largest human smuggling bust in seven years, agents today raided five shuttle services in Arizona that allegedly transported thousands of Mexicans and others who had crossed the border illegally.

Four commercial operators in Phoenix and one in Tucson are accused of giving illegal immigrants fraudulent receipts and coaching them on what to say if the vans were pulled over by police. Agents arrested 47 people in the two cities and several others in Nogales and Rio Rico.

"They are in knee-deep. They know exactly what's going on," John Morton, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, said at a news conference. In a news release, he said the bust "has dealt a serious blow to the infrastructure of some of Arizona's most prolific and profitable human smuggling organizations."

Most of the border crossers were from Mexico and Central Mexico. Some had come from China.

Agents seized at least a dozen vans, some of them new from "Sergio's Shuttle." The commercial firm advertises van shuttle services from northern Mexico to cities in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The Arizona Republic and Arizona Daily Star are following this story.
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This is a link to the second article in USA TODAY.
Post a comment here too.

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From Derechos Humanos = Isabel Garcia

Thursday, 15 April 2010
For Immediate Release
April 15, 2010
Contact: Derechos Humanos: 520.770.1373 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 520.770.1373 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Press conference and Protest
Community Demands Answers from Obama Administration

Thursday, April 15, 2010
2:30pm
Tucson Federal Building

Arizona-- In an unprecedented fashion, today more than 800 ICE agents descended on our communities across the state, spreading fear and panic. Working together with U.S. Marshals, Sheriff and other local law enforcement, they terrorized families and businesses alike.

"The scene this morning on the south-side of Tucson was one of massive show of force, with dozens of agents, police vehicles, and weapons, assaulting our community in a fashion never seen before in Tucson, Arizona. This action clearly demonstrates what we have predicted, that we would all be living in a police state here in Arizona. How can the Obama administration permit these actions while espousing a commitment to 'change'?" stated Kat Rodriguez of Derechos Humanos.

"We demand an immediate response from the President and Secretary Janet Napolitano, as this community is already scrambling from the Jim Crow-type laws coming from the extremists in the Arizona legislature." she continued.

In NYC for a series of presentations about the border and immigration, Derechos Humanos Co-Chair Isabel Garcia faced off against Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce on CNN this morning, calling on the country to begin to properly frame the issue of migration as an issue of economic and political policies, not as an issue of law enforcement or security. "We have permitted Arizona to be the engine for the creation of laws and politicians that will impact every person living in this country," stated Garcia, "with copy-cat legislation appearing across the states."

"It is time that we stand firm with the border communities in demanding real reform, not the principles outlined by Senators Schumer and Graham," stated Rafael Samanez of Vamos Unidos in New York City. "We can see how Arizona in particular has been used as the 'canary in the mines' in order to diminish all of our rights," he continued, "as we can now see these policies impacting all of us across the country."

There will be a protest to follow today's press conference, with a diverse group representing the Tucson community and our demands for answers from the Obama Administration as well as immediate halt to the criminalization of immigrant and migrant communities across the country.
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/index. ... &Itemid=46

If they get a reply from Janet Napolitano and the President, and the people speaking out for border security after the murder of Rancher Rob Krenz haven't gotten a reply, I don't know what to think...

Border shuttles in Tucson raided in AZ immigration sweep
Brady McCombs Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2010 9:55 am

Immigration agents raided four shuttle companies on Tucson's south side Thursday morning as part of a major binational operation targeting an illegal immigrant smuggling network.

Officials mobilized more than 800 federal, state and local law enforcement officers across Southern Arizona on Thursday morning to arrest 47 people in Tucson, Phoenix, Nogales and Rio Rico, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement press release. Mexico's federal police also made arrests in Nogales, Sonora.

The arrested were owners and employees of four Tucson shuttle companies, and a fifth from Phoenix, that transported thousands of illegal immigrants from the border to Tucson and Phoenix, officials say.

Thursday's arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation targeting the Arizona-based people-smuggling networks. They named the effort "Operation in Plain Sight" because the activity was so brazen.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, here how's the operation worked:

The illegal immigrants were given pre-printed fare receipts in the amount of $30 to make the shuttle trips appear legitimate. They were brought to Tucson where they were housed at shuttle companies or drop houses. The illegal immigrants would usually pay their smuggling fees via MoneyGram or Western Union wire transfers before leaving Tucson for Phoenix.

In Phoenix, other smuggling organizations took over, getting the illegal immigrants to their final destinations throughout the country. Agents also served search warrants in Tennessee in connection with the operation.

Most of the smuggled illegal border crossers were from Mexico and Central America but some came from as far away as China.

People have been arrested under the suspicion of a variety of federal violations, including money laundering, illegal immigrant smuggling and conspiracy, the news release said. Those arrested in Arizona are expected to make their initial appearances in federal courts in Phoenix and Tucson on Friday.

The raids brought traffic on South Sixth Avenue to a near standstill Thursday morning as immigration agents raided shuttle companies on Tucson's south side in front of a throng of cameras and reporters who the agency had invited to watch, dozens of curious residents, immigrant advocates and Mexican Consulate officials who looked on from across the street.

The media was alerted to the raids to observe the enforcement action at the three sites, the first near the intersection of South 12th Avenue and West Irvington Road and the other near South Sixth Avenue and West Ajo Way.

At the second shuttle company where the media was invited to watch, Sahuaro Roadrunner Shuttle, 4207 S. 6th Ave., two Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents escorted a handcuffed man from inside into an unmarked white Tahoe. They seized five vans from that location.

At the next door Sonora Shuttle, 4201 S. 6th Ave., passengers from a van that had just arrived from Nogales were asked to get out of the van and agents checked several of their identifications. An ICE official said this particular van was not involved in the investigation.

No arrests were made but one van was seized, according to an ICE spokeswoman who asked not to be identified.

Agents seized Andrew Provencio's shuttle, which he runs out of the Sahuaro Roadrunner location. Agents told him the shuttle was being used for people smuggling. But Provencio and his son, Ricardo Gomez, said they aren't involved in any smuggling. Gomez, who drives the shuttle to and from Nogales and was in the van at the time of the seizure, was questioned by ICE agents but he was not arrested.

Provencio, who was visibly upset, said he bought the 2007 van last year and was just starting to pay off a loan on the $22,000 vehicle. Without making daily trips, he won't be able to make his $400 a month payment.

"You are not even involved in what's going on and they seize everything," Provencio said. "We are clean. We are not that stupid to be bringing people."

Gomez said he and other shuttle drivers are prohibited from asking passengers about their immigration status. The owner of Sahuaro Shuttle, Vidal Ramirez, said the same thing.

"I don't have the right to ask for papers," Ramirez said. "I sell the ticket and that's it."

His company was not raided or visited by immigration agents. They run trips from Tucson to Douglas, Phoenix and Nogales. He wasn't scared when he saw the raids begin across the street but he was alarmed at the number of media and law enforcement that came.

"It's a big, big circus," Ramirez said.

He wasn't alone in his assessment of the raids.

"This is an intimidating tactic," said Carmen Sanchez, who lives nearby and came to watch. "This is putting fear into the Hispanic community."

Raids also took place in Phoenix, Nogales and Rio Rico.

Dozens of agents - some wearing hoods over their faces - swarmed two shuttle business in Phoenix Thursday morning. In Nogales, witnesses told the Nogales International they saw helicopters and federal agents swarming sites downtown. They converged around 8 a.m. on the Union Transportes de Nogales, which houses several shuttle companies and a money-changing house.

Stay turned to Starnet for more updates.

Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com.
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/ ... ml?print=1

This is the BIG time.

In addition to the criminal arrests, the case indictments include criminal forfeiture allegations valued at $10 million. ICE and the U.S. Attorney's office will be seeking to seize assets - including real estate, vehicles and other property - that were derived from the criminal conspiracy. During Thursday's operation, agents seized a total of seven weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than 40 vehicles.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

This is the BIG time.

In addition to the criminal arrests, the case indictments include criminal forfeiture allegations valued at $10 million. ICE and the U.S. Attorney's office will be seeking to seize assets - including real estate, vehicles and other property - that were derived from the criminal conspiracy. During Thursday's operation, agents seized a total of seven weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than 40 vehicles.

Even though this event happened here in Tucson and local news did cover the story, they didn't cover this part about the asset seizures yet. They just gave us a teaser at 5 o'clock that they'll tell you later, what else they found. It is probably the AK-47.

Yes, it was the guns found...