Sheriff's Felony Human Smuggling Arrests Now Exceed 1,000
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
(Despite Governor Taking Away Over One Million Dollars From Sheriff to Fight Human Smuggling)


Phoenix, AZ - Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Human Smuggling detectives arrested 25 more illegal aliens across Valley last night, bringing the total number of arrests made under the Arizona felony Human Smuggling law to 1,003.

Last night, Sheriff’s detectives working in the Anthem area arrested two smugglers, David Osbaldo Ramirez-Garduno (DOB 01/12/1983) & Elias Osvaldo Popoca-Ramirez (DOB 07/20/1983), along with their co-conspirators, as the group was traveling to destinations including Indiana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In unrelated investigations, ten other illegal aliens found to be in the United States illegally were arrested, nine of which were arrested on various state charges, including drug possession, and alcohol violations. Seven of these individuals were leaving Mesa to gain employment outside Arizona.

The Sheriff’s Office will soon implement a crime suppression operation in Mesa, in the near future.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to be the only Arizona law enforcement agency arresting illegal aliens under all aspects of the relatively new anti-human smuggling state law. A violation of this law is a class 4 felony, a non-bailable offense.

The Sheriff has been funding his human smuggling investigations with over one million dollars given to him by the Arizona State Legislature. However, on May 13, 2008, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano took the money away from the Sheriff’s Office.

Despite the Governor’s decision, the Sheriff has continued his enforcement efforts, and his Human Smuggling detectives
have arrested 47 smugglers and co-conspirators since, reaching the total of 1,003 felony arrests.

Sheriff Arpaio applauds Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his staff for prosecuting human smuggling investigations and achieving a high conviction rate.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
http://www.borderfirereport.net/latest/ ... 1-000.html