Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 7, 2025, through June 13, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 266 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 140 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 16 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Fernando Alvin Robles: On June 9, 2025, Fernando Alvin Robles drove a vehicle to the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint. While Robles was at primary inspection, agents noticed that he was looking around as if he was searching for an exit. Robles then gave the agents consent to search the trunk of his vehicle and was referred to secondary inspection for the search. Robles parked outside of the secondary inspection area, but as agents approached the vehicle to direct him to the designated area, Robles drove off at a high rate of speed. Agents pursued Robles and he eventually came to a stop approximately 9 miles later. During a search of Robles’ trunk, agents found a Guatemalan citizen hiding inside who was illegally present in the United States. Robles was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit and Illegal Re-entry. [Case Number: 25‐MJ‐05230]
United States v. Jesus Maldonado-Cortez, United States v. Jessie Pacheco Jose, and United States v. Miguel Alejandro Abril-Miramon: On June 8, 2025, Border Patrol Agents observed Jesus Maldonado‐Cortez driving on a rural dirt road commonly used by smuggling organizations. Agents initiated a vehicle stop to conduct an immigration inspection, but Maldonado‐Cortez failed to yield. As agents pursued Maldonado‐Cortez, he drove through a barbed wire fence and off the road. Agents continued their pursuit on foot and ran to the vehicle’s last location. When they approached the vehicle, they observed that the driver’s door was open and there was no one inside. Agents searched the area and apprehended one individual approximately 300 meters from the vehicle, who was determined to be a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. The next day, agents received information about a group of five suspected illegal aliens in close proximity to the place where the vehicle stopped. Agents responded to the area and apprehended all five subjects, including Maldonado‐Cortez. All five individuals were determined to be citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Maldonado‐Cortez was charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit and Illegal Re‐entry. Two of the other subjects apprehended, Jessie Pacheco Jose and Miguel Alejandro Abril‐Miramon, were charged with Illegal Re‐entry. [Case Numbers: 25‐MJ‐05181; 25‐MJ‐05250; 25‐MJ‐05233]
A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-094_June 13 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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