Thread: AZ: Mesa motels harbored illegal aliens

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March 28, 2008 - 6:42PM
Mesa motels harbored illegal aliens

Eddi Trevizo, Tribune

Thirteen motel owners in Mesa charged for catering to human smugglers and conspiracy to harboring illegal aliens were sentenced Friday.

According to documents released by the United State’s Attorney’s Office the owners of six motels on Main Street were sentenced with several different counts of probation, fines and forfeitures. The total combined criminal and civil forfeiture in the cases was $1.3 million, with a total of $46,500 imposed in fines.

According to reports, the motel owners rented rooms to undercover officers posing as human smugglers, offered advice on how to conceal smuggling activities and advised them to register under false identities to avoid attracting attention.

Authorities said a criminal probe conducted by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement began officially targeting the Mesa motels in February of 2005.

The investigation began after ICE received several leads from community members. Agents from U.S Customs and Border Protection as well as the Mesa Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The motels in question include the Kiva Lodge Motel, HiWay Host Motel, Majestic Guest Inn, Roadrunner Motel, Westernaire Motel, and the Centebar Suites, authorities said.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/112436

Need to check and see if they employ illegal immigrants next.

[i]Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.â€

Six down, several more to go!!

I am quite familiar with that area and it was one long corridor of coyote operations. They used to literally bring them in by the rental truck loads and everyone knew what was going on.

When they started making arrests, it was the best news ever.!!