Speeding stop leads to arrest of 12 illegal immigrants

12:20 PM Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office

CAMP VERDE - The following is a press release from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office:


Israel Rojas

On September 28, 2008, at approximately 6:15 A.M., a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a white van for excessive speed on the I17 near Camp Verde. The deputy also noticed that the van was dramatically sagging in the rear and swerving side to side. Once stopped, the deputy found people stacked on top of each other inside the van as they attempted to remain concealed from outside view.

The driver provided a Mexican license with the name Angel Rodriguez and the deputy determined he was involved in the human smuggling of the 12 persons riding in the van. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officials were contacted, interviewed the subjects by phone, and confirmed they were all illegal aliens.

The driver and 12 passengers were transported to the Camp Verde Jail pending transfer to ICE custody. During follow-up, the deputy learned the driver lied about his name and had purchased fraudulent identification from “a guyâ€