Yuma, Arizona (AZ Family) — The bust of a Yuma-based human smuggling ring has resulted in 18 indictments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
The suspects are believed to be members of a group called La Mesa, which worked for the Mexican criminal group Los Rousos.
Investigators say the group is smuggling or attempting to smuggle hundreds of people across the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States.
Prosecutors say Le Mesa’s leader was Carlos Moreno Serrano, a 24-year-old from Yuma.
Other suspects are said to have coordinated smuggling, scouted drivers, operated stash houses, distributed funds to drivers, rented cars and policed La Mesa.
After the driver was arrested, detectives said, the members began taking small groups of undocumented immigrants to southern and central California to evade law enforcement.
La Mesa leaders kidnapped, threatened, and beat arrested members and drivers.
The 18 suspects were indicted on federal charges of harboring illegal aliens for profit and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. they are:
- Victor Eduardo Araiza-Ponce, 24, of Yuma.
- Antonio Aparicio III, 24, of Somerton.
- Alonzo Esparza, 27, of Yuma.
- Carlos Moreno Serrano, 24, of Yuma.
- Zachiel Noriega Gonzalez, 21, of Somerton.
- Joshua Guillermo Leon Fuentes, 21, of Somerton.
- Angel Rodriguez, 23, of Yuma.
- Cristobal Figueroa, 23, resident of Somerton.
- Saul Ponce Jr., 23, of San Luis.
- David Leon Paranes, 23, of Yuma.
- Manuel Uriel Alvarado, 26, of Yuma.
- Elian Lopez, 24, of Yuma.
- Raymundo Delgado-Diaz, 35, of Yuma.
- Israel Zebeda, 23 years old, lives in Salinas, California.
- Francisco Javier Esparza-Macias, 21, of Somerton.
- Alex Sikete, 25, of Yuma.
- Hector Eduardo Valdez, 31, of Yuma. and
- Jose Gabriel Marquez Mendiola, 32, of Yuma.
The maximum penalty for each charge is 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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