Six men charged with human smuggling

By Derek Jordan
Saturday, Aug 29, 2009 - 10:56:13 am MST


SIERRA VISTA — The Sierra Vista Police Department on Friday announced the arrests of six men in connection with a local human smuggling ring.

Arrested over the course of the past week were Kelley T. Fort, 18; Joshua R. Kleese, 18; Raymon A. Lopez, 21; Jaquary T. Richard, 18; Francisco G. Ruiz, 19; and Dakota J. Sawvell, 19. Charges were human smuggling and criminal syndicate, with the most recent arrest occurring Friday.

Ruiz also was charged with using a minor in a criminal syndicate.

The men, all Sierra Vista residents, were involved with transporting illegal immigrants to Phoenix, said Tracy Grady, public information officer for the Sierra Vista Police Department.

The immigrants “were never held here,â€