6-Time Deportee Arrested in Casa Grande

Updated: Monday, 13 Jun 2011, 3:09 PM MST
Published : Monday, 13 Jun 2011, 3:09 PM MST

CASA GRANDE - A criminal who has been deported six times has been arrested, along with the man who was allegedly giving him a ride.

A Pinal County Sheriff's Office sergeant pulled over a GMC Yukon in Casa Grande after he observed the driver committing several traffic violations. The driver, identified as 56-year-old Delbert Pedro of the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, admitted to the deputy there were "two illegals inside."

The sergeant observed two men lying on the floorboard of the truck, they reported.

The sergeant ordered the men out of the truck, and one of them fled on foot. The other was identified as 26-year-old Miguel Venegas of Mexico -- but at first, he told the sergeant his name was Hector Silva.

The man allegedly told the sergeant he and the other male paid $2,000 each to be smuggled into the U.S. He said they walked for several days and then hitched a ride with the driver of the Yukon.

Investigators determined that the man was Venegas and had given the sergeant a false identity. He had a criminal history which includes arrests in Fresno for forgery, possession of narcotics, fighting, and loitering where a child is present.

The sheriff's office also determined that Venegas had been deported from the U.S. six times. Venegas was booked for false reporting to a law enforcement officer.

As for Pedro, he admitted seeing the two "illegals" walking so he offered to give them a ride. He had only picked them up minutes prior to being stopped.

Pedro was booked into the Pinal County Detention Center for human smuggling and his vehicle was towed.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/cr ... -6-13-2011