District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Illegal Alien who Shot at DEA Agents Charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An illegal alien who shot at Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents attempting to arrest him during a fentanyl sale on Feb. 24, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted murder.
Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, has been charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
His codefendant, Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, was also indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. The two men were arraigned today in federal court.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, we are driving a nationwide effort to choke off the flow of fentanyl at every level- from transnational criminal organizations to street-level distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “We continue to stand by our federal agents as they confront these violent criminal networks head on.”
The indictment alleges that the men conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on Feb. 24, 2026. According to court documents, from Jan. 30, 2026, through Feb. 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their Dodge Ram truck, Valenzuela Lopez opened fire on officers. In response, officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators then discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the truck, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the truck’s passenger compartment. Later, law enforcement also located a brick of fentanyl powder weighing approximately 1 kilogram at Valenzuela Lopez’s residence.
Convictions for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Convictions for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States is 15 years in prison.
The FBI Phoenix Division investigated the assault on a federal officer. DEA Phoenix conducted the drug investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00284
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-055_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news
District of Arizona Charges 256 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 21 through March 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 256 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 155 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 86 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 15 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 (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz was charged by criminal complaint on March 23, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On March 21, 2026, a Border Patrol camera operator observed a group of subjects walking north in the Santa Cruz River area, east of Nogales, Arizona. Camera operators then watched as a Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the same area and the subjects got into the truck. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) nearby initiated a traffic stop to conduct an immigration inspection. In the truck, BPAs found 16 subjects wearing camouflage clothing who were sweating and breathing heavily. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. The driver, the only individual not wearing camouflage clothing, was identified as Pedro Martinez-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who was also in the United States illegally. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00171]
United States v. Thompson, et al. Tyler Daniels Thompson and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews were charged by criminal complaint on March 27, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On March 25, 2026, National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement officers requested a Border Patrol canine handler for a vehicle sniff at the campground road inside Organ Pipe National Monument. When BPAs arrived, NPS officers notified them that they had seen fresh footprints coming from the mountain pass and going directly to a black Volkswagen Jetta nearby. The temperature outside was approximately 100 degrees. The Jetta was occupied by Tyler Daniels Thompson, the driver, and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews, the front seat passenger. After the BPA canine alerted to the vehicle, BPAs opened the trunk and discovered two people hiding inside, drenched in sweat. BPAs pulled out one subject who was passing out, carried him to a shaded area, and cut off his clothes to begin cooling him. BPA EMTs then arrived and administered aid. Initially the EMTs reported that the man was unconscious and they could not detect a pulse, but they were eventually able to cool him off. The subject regained a pulse and was transported to a hospital for further care. The other subject in the trunk required water to revive him. Both subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00354]
United States v. Kristie Elizabeth Pablo. On March 23, 2026, Kristie Elizabeth Pablo was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On March 22, 2026, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed Pablo driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe below the speed limit on I-10 Westbound in Eloy, Arizona. The deputy matched speed with the Tahoe, observed the vehicle’s tires cross into his lane, and initiated a traffic stop. The deputy learned that Pablo was engaged in human smuggling, and called BPAs to the scene. Immigration checks confirmed that one of the passengers in Pablo’s car was a citizen of Mexico and another passenger was a citizen of Guatemala, both unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9091]
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).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-052_March 27, 2026 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Gun Store Owner Indicted for Conspiracy and Attempting to Provide Material Support to Designated Foreign Terrorist OrganizationsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Grips By Larry, a former federal firearms licensee (FFL) was indicted last week on charges related to providing material support to Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (“CJNG”) and Cartel de Sinaloa (“CDS”), Mexican cartels that were designated as foreign terrorist organizations in 2025.
On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a superseding indictment against Laurence Gray, 65, of Hereford, Arizona, for Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Conspiracy to Provide Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Gray was arraigned on the indictment in federal court today.
Gray, the owner of Grips by Larry, a federally licensed firearms dealer in Arizona, was previously indicted for firearms trafficking offenses in 2025, alongside a second individual, Barrett Weinberger, 73, of Tucson, Arizona. The original charges against both men included trafficking in firearms, aiding and abetting the straw purchasing of firearms, and aiding and abetting material false statements during the purchase of a firearm. In addition to more firearms charges, last week’s superseding indictment added material support to terrorism charges against Gray.
The indictment alleges that Gray knowingly attempted to provide firearms to CJNG in May of 2025, and knowingly conspired to provide firearms to both CJNG and CDS that same year. Both cartels were designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on Feb. 20, 2025.
Convictions for Conspiracy to and Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Designated Terrorist Organization each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Trafficking in Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Aiding and Abetting the Straw Purchase of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Aiding and Abetting a Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
This case is 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).
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Shand, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00835-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-051_Weinberger, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.District of Arizona Charges 185 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 14 through March 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 185 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 24 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Ruby Chaidez. On March 14, 2026, Ruby Chaidez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. A deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department observed a vehicle traveling westbound on I-10 and conducted a records check on the vehicle, which showed that its registration had expired. The deputy began driving behind the vehicle and watched as the driver briefly veered off the highway. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and tried to initiate a vehicle stop, but the driver continued for about half a mile before pulling off the road. The deputy then learned that the driver, Chaidez, had two valid arrest warrants out of Maricopa County Superior Court. He placed Chaidez under arrest and searched Chaidez and the vehicle. According to the complaint, the deputy found both drug paraphernalia and an adult male hiding in the vehicle’s trunk. Immigration checks revealed the individual in the trunk to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9085MJ]
United States v. Esteban Caldera-Serrato. Esteban Caldera-Serrato was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien on March 17, 2026. Caldera-Serrato was previously removed from the United States on Feb. 11, 2005, after being convicted of 2nd Degree Forgery, a felony, in Hall County Superior Court, State of Georgia. In that case, Caldera-Serrato was sentenced to two years in prison. [Case Number: 26-MJ-8088]
United States v. Aaron Cruz-Valderas. On March 16, 2026, Aaron Cruz-Valderas was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On March 13, 2026, Border Patrol agents attempted to stop Cruz-Valderas on suspicion of alien smuggling. Cruz-Valderas initially pulled over on State Route 86. However, when agents walked up to his truck and asked Cruz-Valderas to turn the truck off, he instead accelerated and fled. He eventually drove into the desert, going through cacti and brush. Additional Border Patrol agents also responded, ultimately locating the truck and apprehending Cruz-Valderas. The agents also found a passenger in Cruz-Valderas' vehicle who was determined to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1609]
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).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-049_March 20, 2026, 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 197 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Mar. 7 through Mar. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 197 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 132 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 59 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 6 cases against 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 (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Marcos Antonio Arguelles-Miranda. On Mar. 6, 2026, Marcos Antonio Arguelles Miranda was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens. According to the complaint, Horse Patrol Unit (HPU) agents were called that day to assist Field Training Units in tracking three sets of footprints near Gila Bend, Arizona. HPU agents ultimately located three individuals, including Arguelles-Miranda, under a tree. The two other individuals in the group identified Arguelles-Miranda as their foot guide and stated that Arguelles-Miranda had abandoned another illegal alien traveling with them because he could no longer walk. Immigration checks confirmed that all three subjects are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3083]
United States v. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On Mar. 10, 2026, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) attempted to stop a driver suspected of alien smuggling. The driver, Rodriguez-Vazquez, failed to yield to BPAs and a pursuit ensued. At one point, someone opened the passenger side door and a female subject jumped from the moving vehicle. Several BPAs disengaged from the vehicle pursuit to apprehend her while other BPAs continued to pursue the vehicle. Agents finally arrested Rodriguez-Vazquez after a vehicle immobilization device was deployed as he drove through an immigration checkpoint. In an interview with the female subject who had jumped from Rodriguez-Vazquez’s vehicle, she admitted to being a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States. She stated that when BPAs started chasing Rodriguez-Vazquez, he told her to jump out. She refused because the vehicle was still moving, but he argued with her and became aggressive. Rodriguez-Vazquez told her, "salta a la verga," so when the vehicle slowed down, she jumped out even though it was still moving. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5900]
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).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-048_March 13, 2026 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Arizona Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Vein AblationsRead the Press Release
Note, View settlement here.
Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., a physician group based in the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, and three individual physicians, have agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein ablations.
“Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”
“Paying for unnecessary medical procedures reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “When medical providers do not respect the difference between the two and bill in the interest of their own bottom line instead of their patients, the United States Attorney’s Office has pursued and will continue to pursue appropriate recoveries to protect taxpayer funds.”
The civil settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2017, to April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice. Perforator veins are small veins that connect deep and superficial leg veins and require treatment only in certain circumstances. The United States contends that Tri-City and the physicians acted knowingly in incorrectly measuring or documenting in medical records the duration of outward blood flow, the diameter of veins, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures, which gave the appearance that the ablations met accepted medical standards and were justified.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Nicholas C. Perros of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt of the District of Arizona.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Tri-City Settlement Agreement - Executed.pdfArizona Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Vein AblationsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX— Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., a physician group based in the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, and three individual physicians, have agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein ablations.
“Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”
“Paying for unnecessary medical procedures reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “When medical providers do not respect the difference between the two and bill in the interest of their own bottom line instead of their patients, the United States Attorney’s Office has pursued and will continue to pursue appropriate recoveries to protect taxpayer funds.”
The civil settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2017, to April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice. Perforator veins are small veins that connect deep and superficial leg veins and require treatment only in certain circumstances. The United States contends that Tri-City and the physicians acted knowingly in incorrectly measuring or documenting in medical records the duration of outward blood flow, the diameter of veins, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures, which gave the appearance that the ablations met accepted medical standards and were justified.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Nicholas C. Perros of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt of the District of Arizona.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-047_TriCity Cardiology
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Deadly Human Smuggling Related Crash Near ArivacaRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Samuel Lopez-Ozuna, 20, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez after pleading guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Resulting in Death, stemming from a deadly crash in 2024.
On Aug. 9, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to pull over a Chevrolet Tahoe on suspicion that the driver, Lopez-Ozuna, was smuggling illegal aliens near Arivaca, Arizona, about five miles north of the border. Instead of yielding to law enforcement, Lopez-Ozuna fled at a high speed, causing the Tahoe to crash and roll almost immediately. Lopez-Ozuna was smuggling seven aliens, all of whom were ejected from his vehicle during the crash. One person died and three others were seriously injured.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-6035-TUC-AMM (EJM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-047_Lopez-Ozuna
Mexican National Found Guilty of Being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm after Overstaying VisaRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Mexican national who overstayed his visa and illegally possessed a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 26, 2026.
Luis Donaldo Garcia Lopez, 31, of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, was found guilty of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, following a three-day trial. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2026, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, ICE-ERO officers learned that Garcia was unlawfully present in the United States. On Feb. 21, 2025, officers pulled Garcia over. During the stop, officers asked if he had any weapons, and Garcia stated that he had a firearm in a lunchbox inside his vehicle. Officers checked the lunchbox and found a Glock semi-automatic handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was called and took custody of the firearm while Garcia was arrested for immigration violations.
At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Garcia was knowingly present in the United States after his period of authorized stay expired. The expiration of his period of authorized stay made him unlawfully present in the United States, and due to that status, he was not permitted to possess a firearm. Record checks showed that Garcia had a B1/B2 Border Crossing Card visa that he used to enter the United States on 27 separate occasions. Garcia’s last lawful entry into the United States was July 26, 2020, when his Mexican passport was stamped with a one-year permit that expired July 24, 2021. In addition, Garcia’s visa expired in March 2023. Prosecutors showed that Garcia never renewed his entry permit, never applied for a new visa, and never lawfully entered the United States after his permit and visa expired.
A conviction for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a maximum term of three years of supervised release.
This case is 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.
The Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations; and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00339
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-046_Garcia Lopez
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 177 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 28 through Mar. 6, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 177 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 124 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 35 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 17 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Iven Jair Jonathan Monjaraz-Perez, Gabriel Garcia-Lopez, and Alvaro Ojeda-Gomez. Monjarez-Perez, Garcia-Lopez, and Ojea-Gomez were charged by complaint with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien on Mar. 4, 2026. In 2025, HSI opened an investigation into a human smuggling organization operating out of Phoenix, Arizona. According to the complaint, on Mar. 2, 2026, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant on an apartment in Phoenix, located 19 smuggled illegal aliens, and arrested two alleged load drivers, Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez, who acted as caretakers of the apartment. Agents also learned that Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez were citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States. HSI agents then executed a federal search warrant on a second apartment connected to the smuggling scheme and saw two individuals, including Monjarez-Perez, leave the apartment and get into a car associated with the smuggling scheme. Agents arrested Monjarez-Perez, who is alleged to have received money to transport aliens in the United States and receive them at the drop house. Case Number: 26-MJ-3055.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-045_March 6, 2026 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Ex-Amazon Employee and Associates Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Three Phoenix area men were recently sentenced for their roles in a sophisticated fraud scheme against Amazon. Mughith Faisal, 29, of Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Tuchi on Feb. 5, 2026, to 18 months in prison. His brother, Basheer Faisal, 28, of Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa on Feb. 17, 2026, to 18 months in prison. A third defendant, Abdullah Alwan, 28, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich on March 2, 2026, to 6 months in prison. All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud. The three defendants were also each ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to Amazon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Alwan was an employee of Amazon working in the company’s logistics division. After leaving the company in 2021, Alwan used his knowledge of Amazon's proprietary system that created and tracked transportation loads of Amazon products to increase the standard rates for transportation deliveries assigned to Amazon’s third-party carrier companies. Basheer and Mughith Faisal operated Blue Line Transport, an Arizona based transportation company approved by Amazon as a third-party carrier. Blue Line Transport knowingly received the fraudulently increased transportation rates that Alwan input into Amazon’s system, working with him to defraud Amazon of approximately $4.5 million.
FBI Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciate Amazon for referring the matter to the FBI and for the company’s cooperation throughout the investigation.
CASE NUMBER: CR 25-01048- PHX-SMB, CR 25-01095- PHX-DJH, CR 25-01092- PHX-JJT.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-043_Mughith Faisal, Basheer Faisal, and Abdullah Alwan
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Albuquerque Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Threats Against the Former President and Vice PresidentRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of posting threats against then President Biden and Vice President Harris on the social media site X was sentenced March 2, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Michael David Hanson, 44, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hanson previously pleaded guilty to making Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency.
On December 22, 2023, Hanson, posted “#joeAndKamala I’m asking you to resign on Monday your alternative is death brutally murdered…” on one of his X accounts. Hanson admitted that his threat was directed at President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and that he intended to communicate a threat of violence.
“Online death threats made against leaders of the United States are criminal acts, not protected speech,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department are to be commended for quickly identifying and arresting Mr. Hanson, whose 27-month sentence should serve as a warning that there are real-world consequences for threatening elected officials.”
”The U.S. Secret Service has zero tolerance for threats against our protectees. Let this serve as a warning. If you threaten the President of the United States, we will find you, we will arrest you and you will face justice,” said William Mack, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Phoenix Field Office. “We want to thank the Phoenix Police Department as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for their assistance in this case.”
The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-0312-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-044_Hanson
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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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Tucson Man Who Shot at Air and Marine Operations Helicopter Indicted for Attempted Murder of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a five-count indictment against Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Tucson, Arizona, for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer.
“Federal agents serve with integrity to protect all Americans and uphold our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Any assault or attempted murder of a federal officer will be met with the full weight of the law. My office will pursue all appropriate charges and sentences for individuals who would cause harm to these brave men and women.”
“This indictment is a reminder that assault on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Officers who are sworn to protect and serve our communities must be able to do their jobs free from intimidation,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI alongside our local, state and federal partners will continue to vigorously investigate those who harm, or threaten to do harm, to those who wear the badge.”
"Our Air and Marine Agents put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our nation's borders and communities” said Director Jose Muriente, Tucson Air and Marine Branch. “Any act of violence against our federal agents will be met with swift action and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
According to a complaint filed in the case, Schlegel was transporting two illegal aliens on Jan. 26, 2026, when he was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Schlegel fled to avoid apprehension and left the illegal aliens in the desert.
The following day, Border Patrol agents again located Schlegel’s Dodge Ram in a remote desert area. Before he could be stopped, Schlegel drove into the desert, got out of his truck and fled on foot. To assist agents in locating Schlegel, an Air and Marine Operations Pilot flew his helicopter over the area. When Schlegel fired shots from a .45 caliber handgun at the pilot, an agent on the ground returned fire, striking Schlegel in the leg and head. Schlegel was then arrested and provided medical care.
A conviction for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
An indictment 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00819
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-042_Schlegel
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New River Couple Convicted of $12 Million AHCCCS Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Thvoughn Lynden Curry, 34, and Alexis Daneen Curry, 34, both of New River, Arizona, were recently convicted in federal court based on their scheme to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid Agency, of over $12 million. Following a four-day bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, both defendants were convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, three counts of Health Care Fraud, and eight counts of Transactional Money Laundering. Their sentencings are scheduled for May 4, 2026.
“Individuals, like the Currys, who exploit and undermine government healthcare programs for personal gain will be identified, investigated and held accountable in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The men and women of IRS Criminal Investigation follow the money with precision and persistence, tracking every dollar stolen through fraud, corruption and other illicit means. I appreciate their work along with the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General and the Mesa Police Department, who were critical to bringing these two fraudsters to justice.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, the Currys defrauded AHCCCS through “1 Family Clinic, LLC,” their purported outpatient behavioral health clinic in Mesa, Arizona. They first defrauded AHCCCS by submitting a fraudulent application to enroll as an AHCCCS provider. In so doing, they falsely stated that Alexis Curry was the 100% owner and only managing employee of 1 Family Clinic. They falsely omitted that Thvoughn Curry, who had an active, outstanding warrant for felony fraud charges at the time, was also an owner and managing employee of 1 Family Clinic.
Once approved by AHCCCS based on the fraudulent application, the Currys engaged in fraudulent billing practices. Between approximately Feb. 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023, the Currys routinely billed AHCCCS in a uniform, nearly identical pattern for services that were not actually provided. Throughout the course of the scheme, 1 Family billed an average of more than 12 hours of service per member per day—despite being open just eight hours per day on weekdays, five hours on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. As a result of their fraudulent billings, AHCCCS paid 1 Family Clinic more than $12 million—funds that were intended to be used for legitimate healthcare services for low-income individuals.
The evidence at trial showed that the Currys spent much of the money they received from AHCCCS on themselves. They purchased properties and luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus for more than $300,000.
“Medicaid provides an essential service to some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. “For these fraudsters to exploit this system and steal millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars is unconscionable. This guilty verdict marks a significant step toward justice for those victimized by the Currys and serves as a reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are experts at following the money. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uncovering fraud and ensuring fraudsters are held fully accountable for their crimes.”
“AHCCCS remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety of our members and safeguarding the integrity of our programs, which rely on federal and taxpayer resources,” said Roberta Harrison, Interim Director of AHCCCS. “The AHCCCS Office of Inspector General continues to vigorously investigate fraud, waste, and abuse and will carry out its responsibilities in full compliance with federal, state, and agency regulations.”
“This case is a great example of how agencies work in cooperation with the common goal of holding offenders accountable for their crimes,” said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. “We are thankful for the relationships we have built with our partner agencies. It is rewarding to see the impressive results of everyone coming together to see justice served.”
Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count of conviction, a fine, and restitution owed to AHCCCS.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from the Mesa Police Department and AHCCCS-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Corbet and Lindsay Short, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1293-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-040_Curry
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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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Mesa Residents Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Targeting AHCCCSRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Riley, 39, and Britney Gooch, 38, both of Mesa, were recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham for defrauding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency.
Riley was sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, to 24 months of imprisonment. Gooch was sentenced on Feb. 20, 2026, to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. Riley and Gooch were also ordered to pay $3.3 million in restitution to AHCCCS. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Healthcare Fraud.
Riley and Gooch defrauded AHCCCS through their company, New Horizons Behavioral Health, a behavioral health clinic in Mesa. Through New Horizons, they exploited AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program (AIHP) between 2020 and 2022 by falsely billing for services that were not provided to AIHP patients. As a result of the fraudulent billing submissions, Riley and Gooch obtained approximately $3.3 million in illegitimate proceeds from AHCCCS.
“This case is about protecting American taxpayers, restoring the public’s trust, and safeguarding critical health care resources for the communities that truly need them,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Working with our FBI and AHCCCS-OIG partners, we not only secured convictions in this case, but also maximized the recovery of stolen money through the $3.3 million restitution order.”
FBI Phoenix conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01794
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-041_Riley, Gooch
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District of Arizona Charges 156 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 21 through Feb. 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 156 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 106 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed nine cases against 10 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Jose Leonel Medina-Angulo. Medina-Angulo was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, Feb. 23, 2026. A Border Patrol agent observed four individuals walking in remote terrain and dense brush approximately 14 miles south of Exit 87 on I-8. As the Border Patrol agent approached the group, which included Medina-Angulo, they fled and attempted to conceal themselves in bushes but were ultimately apprehended. The agent noticed the individuals were wearing camouflage clothing and carpet booties over their shoes and carrying camouflage backpacks. Later that day, Border Patrol received a report of two additional individuals believed to be a part of the same group apprehended earlier walking northbound through the desert. A Border Patrol agent located the individuals and apprehended them. Some of the individuals in the group positively identified Medina-Angulo as the foot guide. Immigration checks confirmed that all six of the individuals, including Medina-Angulo, are not U.S. citizens and are all unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01142MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Jario Isaias Ventura-Jocol. Ventura-Jocol was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Feb. 25, 2026. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents were identifying vehicles involved in human smuggling when they were notified that a vehicle registered from Phoenix was traveling westbound from the checkpoint without a valid driver's license associated with the vehicle's registration. HSI notified the Tohono O'odham Police Department (TOPD). TOPD observed the vehicle as it was traveling toward an area that is common for drivers to pick up illegal aliens. It then traveled back several minutes later. TOPD then observed the vehicle fail to stop at two stop signs. TOPD attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Jario Isaias Ventura-Jocol, failed to yield. The vehicle began traveling more than 100 mph. HSI joined in the pursuit. At one point, Ventura-Jocol lost control of the vehicle and spun around in the road but was able to regain control and continued fleeing. Ventura-Jocol eventually pulled off to the side of the road, and two subjects fled from the vehicle into the desert. Agents apprehended Ventura-Jocol, the two subjects, and an additional subject hiding in the backseat. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, illegally present in the United States. 26-02936MJ, Tucson.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-039_February 27 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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Two Defendants Charged Following Shootout with DEA Agents and Seizure of Approximately 50,000 Suspected Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, and Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested on the morning of Feb. 24, 2026, by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos had their respective initial appearances on Feb. 25, 2026.
From early February 2026 through February 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez allegedly negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their vehicle, Valenzuela Lopez, who is illegally present in the United States, allegedly opened fire on law enforcement officers. In response, law enforcement officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the fentanyl pill transport vehicle, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the passenger compartment.
A conviction for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution carries a 10-year minimum-mandatory sentence, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five (5) years, up to life.
The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 2:26-mj-5079-DMF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-038_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos
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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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Tuba City Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Phoenix, Ariz. – A man convicted of sexually abusing two young children on Navajo Nation was sentenced Feb. 17, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Avery Cody Billy, 30, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 188 months in prison, followed by 180 months of supervised release. Billy previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
Billy sexually abused two young girls who lived on Navajo Nation. The victims were in first grade when Billy began to abuse them, and he continued the abuse repeatedly over many years. Billy is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
“Avery Cody Billy degraded, hurt and betrayed the trust of two little girls,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Our Justice system must protect the most vulnerable and hold predators fully accountable for the harm they cause to children. I am grateful for the dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys, victim specialists, FBI agents and tribal partners who joined forces to secure this sentence of nearly 16 years. Their commitment also ensures that survivors of abuse receive the critical support and resources they need to heal.”
“Protecting our nation’s kids is one of the most formidable missions of the FBI,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “This defendant’s unspeakable actions will not be tolerated. This sentencing reflects the dedication of the FBI and our tribal law enforcement partners in assuring offenders like this are held accountable and brought to justice."
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-8029-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-036_Billy
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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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District of Arizona Charges 179 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 14 through Feb. 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 179 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 112 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 14 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Kevin Salguero-Chacon. Salguero-Chacon was charged by complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien, Feb. 19, 2026. An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper observed Salguero-Chacon driving on I-10 westbound. The trooper conducted a vehicle registration check, which confirmed that the car’s registration was expired, and the trooper initiated a traffic stop. The trooper observed Salguero-Chacon in the driver’s seat and several individuals dressed in camouflage lying in the vehicle’s rear cargo area. Border Patrol agents arrived and observed seven passengers inside the vehicle, including two juveniles. Immigration checks confirmed that the seven passengers in the vehicle are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States, and that Salguero-Chacon is a citizen of Guatemala. 26-8062MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Joel Portillo-Saucedo. Portillo-Saucedo was charged by complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens and Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 17, 2026. A Border Patrol agent observed four individuals traveling northbound to I-8, near mile marker 100. The agent encountered the four individuals concealed under large bushes, and upon identifying himself as a Border Patrol agent, two of the individuals fled but were ultimately apprehended. It was found that Portillo-Saucedo acted as the foot guide for the group, receiving $1,000 USD for each illegal alien. The three individuals and Portillo-Saucedo are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01116MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Armando Gomez-Talavera. Gomez-Talavera was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Feb. 17, 2026. On Feb. 16, 2026, Border Patrol agents were notified that there was a blue Ford F150 suspected of loading illegal aliens near the border. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection, but the truck failed to yield. The agents were later able to locate the vehicle and utilized a Vehicle Immobilization Device (VID) to immobilize the truck. Although the truck had two flat tires due to the deployment of the VID, the driver continued to try to evade the agents. The truck eventually came to a stop and all occupants fled on foot. Border Patrol agents searched the area and apprehended the driver, Gomez-Talavera, and five other subjects, who are citizens and nationals of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. 26-07212, Tucson.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-037_February 20 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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Tucson Airman and his Spouse Indicted for Defrauding the Department of War of MillionsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –A federal grand jury has returned an indictment, charging a Tucson couple with a years long scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of War of millions of dollars, while using the illicit proceeds to curate and maintain a luxurious lifestyle, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
On Feb. 11, 2026, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a 12-count indictment against U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his spouse, Manuel George Madrid, 32, both of Tucson, for Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering.
“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will hold accountable any individual who profits illegally at the expense of the American people.”
“Military servicemembers hold a unique position in our society, where they are entrusted with large amounts of taxpayer dollars to ensure the defense of our nation,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. “When a servicemember abuses their position for personal gain, it erodes trust in the tax system and harms the very citizens they have sworn an oath to protect. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to investigate allegations of theft of taxpayer funds and government property, ensuring the integrity of our nation’s tax system.”
“This indictment reflects the outcome of a coordinated effort between AFOSI and our federal counterparts,” said Special Agent Richard Kautz, AFOSI Detachment 217 Commander. “Fraud of this level is not just a financial crime, it undermines public trust, diverts resources, and threatens the integrity of our force. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken away from the security of our nation.”
The indictment alleges that from January 2022 through on or about December 2025, Staff Sgt. Ramroop utilized his position in the pharmacy at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to defraud the U.S. government by purchasing thousands of medical devices using taxpayer funds, and thereafter, stealing and reselling those devices with Madrid for their own personal gain.
According to court records from 2022 through 2025, bank accounts controlled by Ramroop and Madrid received over $11 million in fraud proceeds through wire transfers, Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits, and other credits from companies engaged in the resale of medical test strips and devices. Meanwhile, the orders of these diverted medical devices cost the U.S. Department of War over $3 million.
The indictment also alleges that Ramroop and Madrid used the fraud proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate. Further, these purchases were allegedly made directly from the personal bank accounts of Ramroop and Madrid, the same bank accounts that had received fraud proceeds from the medical device sales.
For example, the proceeds were allegedly used to purchase, among other items, a million-dollar home in Tucson in February 2024, a new 2024 Porsche Cayenne Sport Utility Vehicle for $141,443.34 and a new BMW i7 Sport Utility Vehicle for $195,397.59.
According to the indictment, the vehicles, and others, were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant on Jan. 15, 2026.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment. Each conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. Each conviction for Money Laundering carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Courchaine commended the investigatory efforts of IRS–Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and members of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Counter Narcotics Alliance (CAN), and the Marana, Mesa, and Tucson Police Departments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
(Photo Credit: Internal Revenue Service Office of Criminal Investigation)
(Photo Credit: Internal Revenue Service Office of Criminal Investigation)CASE NUMBER: 4:26-cr-00601-AMM-JEM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-032_Ramroop et al.
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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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Polacca Woman Sentenced for Killing her Son While Driving DrunkRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Polacca woman convicted of drunk driving and killing her 14-year-old son was sentenced on Feb.17, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Marian Marsha Josytewa, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. In August 2025, following a six-day trial, a federal jury found Josytewa guilty of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Child Abuse, and one count of Driving Under the Influence.
On Dec. 10, 2021, Josytewa consumed several beers before picking her two teenage sons up from school in Flagstaff, Arizona, and attempting to drive them back to the Hopi Indian Reservation. While traveling on a highway on the Navajo Nation Reservation, Josytewa rolled her car. Her unbuckled 14-year-old son was ejected and crushed to death as the car rolled. Josytewa’s blood was drawn and tested at a crime lab, which showed a BAC level of approximately .113.
FBI Phoenix, Flagstaff office, and the Navajo Nation Police Department jointly conducted the investigation with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08083-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-033_Josytewa
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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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Mexican National Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for His Role in a Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Guillermo Valenzuela-Ramirez, 30, of Imuris, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 17, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Valenzuela-Ramirez was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
As part of this conspiracy, on July 1, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, Valenzuela-Ramirez and his co-conspirators possessed approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to another individual that evening.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-5415-JGZ-2
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-035_Valenzuela-Ramirez
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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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Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Seven Years for Participation in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jonathan Mora-Leon, 27, of Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 84 months of imprisonment. Mora-Leon previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
Between February and November 2023, Mora-Leon organized three drug deals involving methamphetamine and fentanyl with an undercover agent. Each time, Mora-Leon arranged for coconspirators to deliver the drugs on his behalf. During the fourth and final transaction on Jan. 18, 2024, Mora-Leon met with the undercover agent to distribute more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents intercepted the drugs and arrested Mora-Leon and two coconspirators.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR24-00681-TUC-SHR (LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-034_Mora-Leon
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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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Willcox Man Sentenced to 156 Months in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Dino Peraino, 64, of Willcox, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 9, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 156 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Peraino previously pleaded guilty to Bank Robbery.
On July 10, 2025, Peraino entered a Chase Bank located in Safford, Arizona, and handed a note to the victim teller, directing the teller to give him $10,000.00 in cash. Peraino further told the teller to hurry and stated he had a firearm, while motioning toward his waistband.
FBI Phoenix, Sierra Vista office, and the Safford Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-3532
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-029_Peraino
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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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Royal Inn Owner SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of a motel known for serving as a hub for prostitution and drug activities has been sentenced in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Varsha Patel, 57, of Chino Hills, California, was sentenced on Feb. 4, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years of probation, forfeiture of the Royal Inn motel, forfeiture of $744,000, and a $5,000 fine. Patel previously pleaded guilty to Using a Facility of Interstate Commerce in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises.
“When federal and local law enforcement team up it’s a force multiplier. In this case, the Phoenix Police Department, FBI and U.S. Marshals joined forces to shut down the Royal Inn, making an immediate and significant impact on public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Together, we will take decisive action to ensure Arizonans live in communities where families, schools, and businesses can thrive.”
“This sentencing is the culmination of several years of hard work by both the FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The defendant knowingly and willingly operated the Royal Inn to facilitate the sexual exploitation of people and the sale of drugs,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Heith Janke. “The defendant essentially operated a marketplace of illicit activity and profited for years while turning a blind and uncaring eye to the families that live in that neighborhood. That ended when the FBI seized the hotel, and this defendant will now pay the price for her actions.”
"Our partnerships with federal agencies are critical in dismantling organizations that allow criminal behavior to affect the quality of life of our community members,” said Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano. “By working together, we ensure that those who profit from illegal enterprises are held accountable. This case demonstrates that when law enforcement agencies work together, we can restore safety and security to the areas most impacted by crime."
A search warrant was executed in September 2024 at the Royal Inn, located at 2510 W. Palo Verde Drive in Phoenix, Arizona, following an extensive coordinated investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI. The high volume of criminal activity at the Royal Inn was well known in the community where residents, business owners, and two schools, witnessed around-the-clock prostitution and drug dealing. Following the execution of a search and seizure warrant, the U.S. Marshals Service shuttered and fenced off the premises, ending the neighborhood blight.
“The United States Marshals Service is committed to supporting safe and stable communities across Arizona,” said United States Marshal Van Bayless. “Through strong collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we were able to address criminal activity that had long impacted this neighborhood. The closure of the Royal Inn reflects what can be accomplished when agencies work together toward a shared goal of protecting the public and restoring confidence in the communities we serve.”
The Phoenix Police Department, FBI Phoenix, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01529-001-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-031_Patel
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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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McNary Man Sentenced to Prison for Death of Significant OtherRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of killing his significant other with his vehicle near McNary, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Termane Billy Celaya, 20, of McNary, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharad H. Desai to 97 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Celaya previously pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter.
Celaya was seated in his pickup truck while he argued with the victim, who was his significant other, while she stood outside of the vehicle. During the argument, Celaya backed up the truck and drove it forward, running over and killing the victim. Celaya fled the scene in the vehicle and was later captured by police after leading them on a pursuit.
FBI Phoenix, Pinetop-Lakeside office, and the White Mountain Apache Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08095-PCT-SHD
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-030_Celaya
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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District of Arizona Charges 155 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 7 through Feb. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 155 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 99 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 16 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 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. Luis Miguel Salas-Blanco. Salas-Blanco was charged by complaint with Reentry of Removed Alien, Feb. 10, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on Oct. 7, 2021, after being convicted of Possession of a Weapon by a Prohibited Person and Forgery-Possession of a Forged Instrument, both felonies, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Salas-Blanco was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment for each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently. 26-9011MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Fileman Gomez-Casteneda. Gomez-Casteneda was charged by complaint with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully. A Border Patrol Agent first observed five suspected illegal aliens walking northbound near exit 87 on I-8. Another BPA located the five individuals—one of whom was later identified as Gomez-Casteneda—hiding under a tree and wearing camouflage shirts and pants. Immigration checks confirmed that Gomez-Casteneda and the four others are citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01114MJ, Phoenix.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-028_February 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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Jury Convicts Tuba City Man of Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Feb. 5, 2026, a federal jury found Derick Lee Myron, 45, of Tuba City, Arizona, guilty of one count of Second-Degree Murder, three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, four counts of Discharging a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Robbery. The guilty verdict followed an eight-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
On April 29, 2024, Myron shot and killed an unarmed victim and shot and seriously injured two others, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Myron then stole a truck, ran over the victim he had killed, and fled the crime scene. He later disposed of the truck in a canyon in Cameron, Arizona. Over the next two days, Myron hid the firearm he used to shoot the victims, and evaded arrest by hiding in the Moenkopi Wash.
A conviction for Second Degree Murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than five years of supervised release. The remaining convictions include additional penalties that could amount to more than 10 years in prison.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and Navajo Nation Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police Department, and Coconino County Sherrif’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Genevieve A. Ozark (Phoenix) and Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff), District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08050-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026- 026_Myron
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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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Arizona Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms After Communicating Online with Australian KillersRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An Arizona man who came to law enforcement’s attention as part of an investigation into the murder of two police officers and one civilian in Queensland, Australia, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to three years in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
Donald Day, Jr., 61, of Heber, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 12, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Day previously pleaded guilty to being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.
“Donald Day Jr. chose to use online platforms to advocate for violence against law enforcement and public officials, disregarding the danger his actions created,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Day regularly shared the same rhetoric with a family in Australia, who tragically took the lives of their neighbor and two constables. Our thoughts continue to be with the colleagues and families of those lost in Queensland. I’m proud of the work done by this justice team to hold Day accountable for his crimes.”
"Donald Day Jr.'s use of social media to encourage attacks on law enforcement officers and government officials around the world was despicable," said Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. "This case exemplifies the lengths FBI Phoenix will go to avenge law enforcement partners, including those murdered overseas. Day's crimes were as harmful as the attacks they incited. Today's sentence shows that threats posted online will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted, and we'd like to thank the Queensland Police Service and the United States Attorney's Office for their dedication to ensuring justice was served."
“The tragic events of 12 December 2022 will forever be marked as a dark day for the QPS and Queensland communities. The loss of constable Matthew Arnold and constable Rachel McCrow, and neighbour, Alan Dare, continues to weigh heavily on the QPS family and the broader Queensland community, and our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and colleagues,” said Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scalon. “The QPS deeply values the strong partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, whose collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this matter to justice. The sentencing of Donald Day Jr. and legal proceedings highlight the importance of international cooperation in addressing serious crimes that transcend borders. We remain committed to working closely with our national and international law enforcement partners to ensure justice for the victims and their families.”
Day, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was residing on a rural property outside Heber, Arizona, when he began communicating anti-law enforcement sentiments via social media with the Trains, three Australian family members who murdered two police officers and a neighbor on their rural Queensland property. In a video post shortly after the killings, the Trains stated “[t]hey came to us, and we killed them. If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward.” They specifically mentioned Day in their video, saying “We’ll see you when we go home. We’ll see you at home, Don. Love you.” The Trains died later that day after a standoff with Australian law enforcement.
When Day learned of their death, he made an online post stating, “[w]ell, like my brother…, like my sister…, it is no different for us. The devils come for us, they [expletive] die.” Day made this statement after publicly posting on a social media platform that he is an “x-con, who’s armed to the teeth”. A later search of Day’s property revealed nine firearms, including a short-barreled rifle, and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, a shooting range, and an elevated shooting position.
FBI Phoenix conducted the investigation with assistance from the Queensland Police Service, Australia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pimsner, Abbie Broughton, and Glenn McCormick, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-08132-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-027_Day
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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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California Man Makes Initial Appearance for Transmitting a Demand for RansomRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A California man charged with transmitting a demand for ransom made an initial appearance today in federal court in Tucson, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, is charged with transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
According to the criminal complaint, Callella is alleged to have sent the demands via two text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026. He is also alleged to have made a 9-second phone call to a family member.
Through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI will continue to hold this defendant accountable and any other individuals who seek to interfere with federal investigations or profit from the victim family’s grief.
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.
CASE NUMBER: 26-04209MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026- 025_Callella
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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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Over Six Million Dollars in Taxpayer Funds RecoveredRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, today announced that, through a court-ordered judgment in a civil asset forfeiture action, the government has secured approximately $6,550,729 in stolen taxpayer money.
Through diligent investigation and the effective use of civil forfeiture, federal agents and prosecutors recovered the taxpayer funds stolen through pandemic-related schemes.
As set forth in the civil complaint, COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance funding was distributed through several federal programs, including the CARES Act, the Continued Assistance Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This funding was administered through state workforce agencies, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES). Fraudsters, using stolen personal information of U.S. citizens and fabricated employment information, applied for and obtained unemployment insurance payments through ADES. The fraudsters routed the payments to bank accounts they opened using the stolen personal information, then withdrew the funds or transferred them to other accounts. Investigators identified over 2,000 fraudulent accounts that contained over $6 million in payments obtained from ADES. Using civil forfeiture authority, federal prosecutors and investigators were able to seize and recover the funds.
The District of Arizona brought this civil forfeiture case in cooperation with the broader national DOJ-led COVID Fraud Task Force–a multi-agency collaboration among prosecutors and law enforcement from various agencies that has, to-date, charged numerous individuals and entities who exploited COVID fraud relief programs and seized and forfeited over $1.4 billion in COVID fraud proceeds.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the seizure and forfeiture. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Bozdech and LaTanya Wateland.
CASE NUMBER: CV-24-00331-PHX-SHD
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-024_over $6million in US Currency
Two Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Illegally Export Weapons to South SudanRead the Press Release
Today, Peter Biar Ajak, 42, of Maryland, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai for the District of Arizona to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ajak’s co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, 46, of Utah, was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2025, by Judge Desai to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).
“From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Ajak discussed ways to conceal his conduct, which he knew was illegal, including by misrepresenting financial transactions as attempts to provide humanitarian aid. The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting violations of U.S. export control laws to ensure that U.S. weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.”
“The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4M arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d'état in South Sudan,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “Thanks to federal prosecutors, agents and investigators from across the spectrum of U.S. government agencies, the plot was thwarted and the defendants were brought to justice, safeguarding our national security interests.”
“By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the investigative arm of DoD’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to safeguarding DoD equities and ensuring that military-grade weapons do not fall into the hands of those who would endanger American service members.”
“The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “As part of HSI’s core mission to investigate illicit transfers of arms to countries in turmoil, these conspirators attempted to destabilize national and international peace and security. HSI and our partners remain committed to pursuing charges against those who violate these laws.”
As defendants admitted in their plea agreements, between at least February 2023 and March 2024, Keech and Ajak sought to illegally purchase and export nearly $4 million worth of export-controlled, military grade weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without the required export licenses. Defendants sought to provide these weapons and ammunition — which included ten Stinger missile systems, two hundred grenade launchers, more than a thousand machine guns and rifles, and over 3.5 million rounds of ammunition — to opposition groups in South Sudan seeking to topple the current South Sudanese government. Defendants planned to install Ajak as the country’s new president after the regime change.
Defendants knew South Sudan was subject to an arms embargo and that exporting weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without a license from the U.S. government would violate U.S. law. To facilitate their smuggling scheme, defendants discussed paying bribes and disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid. Defendants also created a fake invoice to conceal from financial institutions and others the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the illicit arms. As part of their plea agreement, defendants agreed to forfeit nearly $2 million they raised to pay for the weapons, which was seized by the United States.
HSI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Chang, Raymond K. Woo, M. Bridget Minder, and Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Two Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Illegally Export Weapons to South SudanRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, Peter Biar Ajak, 42, of Maryland, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai for the District of Arizona to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ajak’s co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, 46, of Utah, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, by Judge Desai to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).
“From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Ajak discussed ways to conceal his conduct, which he knew was illegal, including by misrepresenting financial transactions as attempts to provide humanitarian aid. The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting violations of U.S. export control laws to ensure that U.S. weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.”
“The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4M arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d'état in South Sudan,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “Thanks to federal prosecutors, agents and investigators from across the spectrum of U.S. government agencies, the plot was thwarted and the defendants were brought to justice, safeguarding our national security interests.”
“By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the investigative arm of DoD’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to safeguarding DoD equities and ensuring that military-grade weapons do not fall into the hands of those who would endanger American service members.”
“The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of HSI Arizona. “As part of HSI’s core mission to investigate illicit transfers of arms to countries in turmoil, these conspirators attempted to destabilize national and international peace and security. HSI and our partners remain committed to pursuing charges against those who violate these laws.”
As defendants admitted in their plea agreements, between at least February 2023 and March 2024, Keech and Ajak sought to illegally purchase and export nearly $4 million worth of export-controlled, military grade weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without the required export licenses. Defendants sought to provide these weapons and ammunition—which included ten Stinger missile systems, two hundred grenade launchers, more than a thousand machine guns and rifles, and over 3.5 million rounds of ammunition—to opposition groups in South Sudan seeking to topple the current South Sudanese government. Defendants planned to install Ajak as the country’s new president after the regime change.
Defendants knew South Sudan was subject to an arms embargo and that exporting weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without a license from the U.S. government would violate U.S. law. To facilitate their smuggling scheme, defendants discussed paying bribes and disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid. Defendants also created a fake invoice to conceal from financial institutions and others the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the illicit arms. As part of their plea agreement, defendants agreed to forfeit nearly $2 million they raised to pay for the weapons, which was seized by the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Chang, Raymond K. Woo, M. Bridget Minder, and Joseph F. Bozdech of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-394
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-022_AJAK
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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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District of Arizona Charges 139 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Jan. 31 through Feb. 6, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 139 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 84 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 15 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-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. Pedro Nunez-Espino. Nunez-Espino was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 6, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on May 3, 2015, and was previously convicted of Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Nunez-Espino was sentenced to six months of imprisonment followed by three years of probation. 26-6046MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Pedro Cazares-Diaz. Cazares-Diaz was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 4, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on May 18, 2010, after being convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Force Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury, and Receiving Stolen Property, felonies, in the Superior Court of California, San Diego, South County Division. In that case, Cazares-Diaz was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and one year and four months of imprisonment, respectively for each count, to be served concurrently. 26-6036MJ, Phoenix.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-023_February 6 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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California Man Charged with Transmitting a Demand for RansomRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz, - On Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, the FBI arrested Derrick Callella, 42, in Hawthorne, Calif. Callella has been charged via a criminal complaint filed in federal court for transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person.
“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”
“To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke.
Per policy, the FBI does not release booking photos.
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.
See complaint here:
usa_v_callella_complaint.pdfCASE NUMBER: 26-04209MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-021_Callella
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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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Mexican National Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Sebastian Martinez-Romero, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Martinez-Romero previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
On April 30, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, Martinez-Romero and others possessed approximately 40 kilograms of powder and pills containing fentanyl and more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to others later that day.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-2710-AMM-3
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-019_Martinez-RomeroMexican National Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Aaron Leopoldo Aguirre-Gutierrez, 50, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Aguirre-Gutierrez previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine.
Between Feb. 24, 2024 to August 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, Aguirre-Gutierrez and others distributed approximately 19 kilograms of powder cocaine.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-5214
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-020_Aguirre-Gutierrez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Mexican National Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol AgentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Efrain Pacheco-Ovalles, 30, of Culiacan, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pacheco-Ovalles pleaded guilty to assault of a federal officer and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate assaults on federal agents nor the criminal networks that exploit our southern border,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “In Tucson and across Arizona, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to stop these networks from smuggling people and drugs into our country. We will protect our agents, secure the border, and hold accountable those who profit from lawlessness.”
In January and February of 2025, the defendant was working as a scout for a transnational criminal organization (TCO). Scouts are trusted TCO members who are integral to successfully moving aliens and controlled substances without being interdicted by law enforcement. TCOs have long used remote areas of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation to smuggle narcotics and aliens from Mexico into the United States. Scouts act as the “eyes and ears” of TCOs. Scouts position themselves on mountain tops in smuggling corridors so that they have views of roads and smuggling routes. They use binoculars to look for law enforcement, and radios and cellphones to communicate with other members of the conspiracy to ensure coconspirators and illegal aliens escape apprehension by law enforcement. The defendant in this case admitted he was expected to scout for three months and was going to be paid $40 per alien that successfully arrived in the Phoenix area.
On Feb. 4, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents conducted an operation to disrupt the scout site on Nine Mile Mountain in a remote area of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation. When agents located the defendant trying to hide under a tree, he fled down the mountain. An agent pursued the defendant. The agent repeatedly identified himself as a USBP agent in English and Spanish. The air unit also maintained visual. The agent chased the defendant downhill for about 1.5 miles. The defendant was taking pictures and videos of the agents while he ran. Agents also saw the defendant throw his binoculars and backpack. When one agent got close enough to try to apprehend him, the defendant intentionally elbowed the agent in the face, resulting in a black eye.
This case is 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).
The U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Sector, investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 4:25-CR-01353-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-017_ Pacheco-Ovalles
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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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Jamaican National Sentenced to Prison for Engaging in Fraud Scheme Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
Tucson, Ariz. – Deeno Roberto Jackson, 27, of Jamaica, was sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
“American seniors should be respected, not taken advantage of,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Scammers use fake sweepstakes, health care, tech support, and government imposter schemes to steal seniors’ hard-earned savings. In this case, an Arizona victim lost more than $480,000. My office, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue justice for victims of fraud.”
“Most people work hard for their well-earned money; Mr. Jackson did not. He preyed on the trust and good faith of our elderly population for personal gain,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “Any and all reporting of elder fraud is significant, and we are grateful to the victims in this case who came forward. Consistent reporting helps us identify patterns, stop offenders, and protect others who are being scammed. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it.”
Jackson took part in a conspiracy to defraud elderly victims in what is commonly referred to as a lottery or sweepstakes fraud scheme. Through materially false representations, the co-conspirators created the false impression that the victims won a prize. The co-conspirators communicated that to obtain these winnings, the victims were required to pay fees or taxes. However, in real lotteries, fees and taxes are paid by the winner after receiving the proceeds. In furtherance of the fraud scheme, the co-schemers falsely represented that they were acting as representatives of the federal government. Victims were directed to purchase gift cards, and to deposit funds into bank accounts controlled by Jackson and others. One Arizona victim lost over $480,000 from the scheme. Jackson was also ordered to pay restitution to various victims totaling $74,530.
The FBI, Tucson office, conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 4:25-cr-02403-RM-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-016_Jackson
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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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Avondale Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tucson, Ariz. – Ramon Renteria, 33, of Avondale, Arizona, was sentenced on Jan. 15, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 64 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release, with community restitution and a fine totaling $7,000. Renteria previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On Dec. 2, 2020, law enforcement seized approximately 31.1 kilograms of methamphetamine in connection with Renteria’s role coordinating the transportation of drug loads from Tucson to Phoenix.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Oro Valley Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefani Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01681
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-018_Renteria
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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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Detroit-Area Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Maliciously Setting Fires to Commercial Truck TrailersRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A Michigan man was sentenced Thursday to 120 months in federal prison for maliciously setting fires to three semi-trailers belonging to a major commercial trucking company, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Viorel Pricop, 67, of Allen Park, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker.
At the conclusion of an 8-day trial, a jury found Pricop guilty of three counts of Arson of a Vehicle or Property in Interstate Commerce on Aug. 21, 2024.
“This defendant left a nation-wide path of destruction that threatened lives, property, and critical infrastructure,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Thanks to the dedicated work of federal prosecutors and ATF agents, the DoJ brought him to justice. This case is proof that the federal government will bring its full weight to bear in order to stop dangerous and destructive criminals.”
"The ten-year sentence handed down to Pricop marks the culmination of a multi-year, multi-state investigation into a dangerous campaign of targeted arson,” said Shawn Stallo, ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Phoenix Field Division. "This successful outcome was made possible through the exhaustive use of ATF resources, including our K-9 units, the Fire Research Laboratory, and the technical expertise of our Certified Fire Investigators who methodically linked these fires across the country. By leveraging these specialized tools to hold this serial arsonist accountable, we have ensured that he can no longer threaten the lives of drivers or the safety of our nation's interstate commerce.”
Pricop set fire to three semi-truck trailers belonging to Swift Transportation, a Phoenix-based commercial trucking company, as part of a larger pattern of arsons targeting Swift. Two of the arsons occurred in Willcox, Arizona, and one occurred in Holbrook, Arizona.
Pricop set at least 16 additional Swift Transportation semi-trailers on fire in multiple states between October 2021 and September 2022. These arsons occurred at locations spanning from Barstow, California, to McCalla, Alabama, with most occurring along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40. Federal criminal charges associated with some of the fires were filed against Pricop in several districts and were the basis of a 2024 criminal trial in the Central District of California, where Pricop was found guilty of six arsons.
Pricop was convicted in 2018 in the Eastern District of Michigan for a tax offense and transportation of stolen goods, charges stemming from an investigation conducted by Swift. Pricop was sentenced to time served in that case, amounting to approximately 26 months’ imprisonment. His term of supervised release ended in June 2019, approximately two years before the arsons in this case began.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Phoenix Field Division, led the investigation in this case, with significant assistance from the ATF Fire Research and Forensic Laboratories, ATF Certified Fire Investigators, and Special Agents from the ATF National Cellular Analytics Program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
Willcox, AZ fires.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-02747-JCH-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-015_Pricop
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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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Nine Charged with Conspiracy to Straw Purchase FirearmsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Jan. 27, 2026, the following nine people were charged by federal criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Commit the Offense of Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm: Jorge Alain Corona, 28, of Gilroy, California; Alejandro Corona, 32, of Yuma, Arizona; Jonathan Ventura Bravo, 32, of Phoenix, Arizona; Marvin Agustin Teutle, 29, of Laveen, Arizona; Jesus Roberto Corella Mares, 33, of Mesa, Arizona; Rosario Agustin Teutle, 27, of Buckeye, Arizona; April Denise Corral Aldecoa, 24, of Yuma, Arizona; Linda-Ana Grace Camarillo, 22, of Kalispell, Montana; and Jose Ruben Quiroz, 26, of Yuma, Arizona.
“This case exposes a scheme to lie, buy, and funnel dangerous firearms into the hands of nefarious actors, including trafficking firearms across our southern border,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “It is particularly alarming when these weapons are intended for use by criminal organizations. This office will continue working in tandem with our law enforcement partners to block the flow of illegal firearms to those who would use them to harm others.”
“Straw purchasers aren’t just lying on a form- they’re often putting firearms directly onto the hands of criminals,” said Shawn Stallo, acting special agent in charge for the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Straw purchasing is a serious felony that can carry penalties of up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.”
“Straw purchasing undermines public safety by intentionally concealing the identity of the actual offender and defeating lawful safeguards,” said Matthew Murphy, acting special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the public, thoroughly investigating this criminal activity and reviewing all facts objectively and with integrity — because community safety depends on it.”
According to the complaint, between March 2020 and January 2024, defendants acted to unlawfully acquire firearms by making false representations to the firearms seller. Specifically, at the time of purchase, the straw purchaser would sign forms claiming that they were the actual purchaser of the firearm, when in fact they were acquiring the firearm on behalf of another individual. Over the course of the investigation, these individuals conspired to straw purchase more than 15 firearms, including at least three Barrett .50 caliber and 10 belt-fed semi-automatic rifles, which were intended to be smuggled into Mexico.
On July 26, 2023, law enforcement was able to seize six of the firearms shortly after they were illegally obtained. On March 24, 2025, authorities with the Government of Mexico seized another firearm identified in this investigation as illegally acquired by this conspiracy.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF investigation comprises agents and officers from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis L. Wheeler and Bradley Baugher of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Phoenix.
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.
CASE NUMBER: 26-3011MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-014_Corona, et. al
Photos of firearms seized.
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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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Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced MARIO RAMIRO ARAGON-RUANO, also known as Mario Ramiro Aragon and Jose Juana-Zapata, 38, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in August 2006, Aragon-Ruano, using the name Jose Juana-Zapata, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala later that month and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. He subsequently reentered the U.S. and was arrested in 2007.
In August 2008, Aragon-Ruano was convicted, under the name Mario Ramiro Aragon, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on a federal charge of murder for hire, and was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment. In September 2013, he was again deported to Guatemala.
In July 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Aragon-Ruano in Arizona. In January 2020, he was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported and he was sentenced to 13 months and one day of imprisonment. He was deported to Guatemala a third time in July 2020.
Aragon-Ruano subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. On January 10, 2026, he was arrested by Waterbury Police and charged with criminal trespass in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. After Aragon-Ruano was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on January 12, 2026, in Waterbury.
Aragon-Ruano appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Aragon-Ruano faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is 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.
District of Arizona Charges 200 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Jan. 24 through Jan. 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 200 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 109 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 72 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-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. Gustavo Duarte-Corona. Duarte-Corona was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Jan. 29, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on March 28, 1997, after being convicted of Delivery of a Controlled Substance I, a felony, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, Multnomah County. In that case, Duarte-Corona was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release. 26-03031MJ, Phoenix.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-013_January 30 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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California Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Multi-State Identity Theft and Bank Fraud Ring ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Muhammed Drammeh, 30, of Huntington Beach, California, was sentenced on Jan. 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Drammeh previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
The defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme that targeted individuals and banks in Arizona, Colorado, and California. The co-conspirators unlawfully and without authorization used victims’ personal identifying information and fraudulent identifications to open phony business accounts linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts. The two then transferred the victims’ funds from the victims’ legitimate bank accounts to the phony business bank accounts created and controlled by the co-conspirators. Once the victims’ funds were transferred to the phony business accounts, the co-conspirators withdrew the fraudulently obtained proceeds in cash at financial institutions and casinos.
Drammeh recruited other co-conspirators to impersonate victims using stolen identities and provided them fake identifications to further the scheme. Drammeh supervised at least one or more co-conspirators when they opened fraudulent accounts in victims’ names and withdrew the funds from banks and casinos.
The FBI, Tucson office, conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00927-AMM-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-012_DRAMMEH
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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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Execution of Federal Search Warrants at 14 Phoenix-Area Zipps Restaurants Results in Illegal Employment and Identity Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the IRS-Criminal Investigation executed federal search warrants at 14 Zipps restaurants in the Phoenix area, Monday, Jan. 26., after a year-long investigation into unlawful employment of aliens, identity theft, and document fraud.
As a result of the investigation, Diego Gonzalez-Rosales, 36, a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States, was charged by criminal complaint with Pattern and Practice of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Knowingly Making False Attestations on a Form I-9, Knowingly Transferring Mean of Identification Without Authority, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
As the individual responsible for hiring kitchen staff for all Zipps locations in Arizona, Gonzalez-Rosales is alleged to have recruited and hired illegal aliens at multiple locations, using fraudulent identification documents to verify their eligibility to work via the E-Verify online employment verification system.
Employees Edwin Flores Rosales, 28, Salvador Villenueva-Rosas, 48, and Ludwin Benjamin Perez Velasco, 22, all unlawfully present in the United States, have also been charged in criminal complaints for lying when filling out the Form I-9, stating they were U.S. citizens and using false identification and social security numbers.
In total, 39 individuals unlawfully present in the United States and working at Zipps were taken into custody during the operation.
According to the complaint and probable cause documents, in March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served 14 Zipps locations, plus corporate headquarters, with a notice of inspection requiring the company to produce their Forms I-9, after receiving information alleging that employees may have been using fraudulent identification documents to verify their eligibility to work using the E-Verify system.
HSI later reviewed documents provided by the company that revealed alleged instances in which the name, social security number and date of birth on the forms were being misused to gain employment.
A review of employee wages identified 76 employees who had suspicious patterns of employment, showing between three and 42 active employers other than Zipps Sports Grill during the second quarter of 2025. These individuals certified themselves as U.S. citizens, which meant they were not required to list an Alien Registration Number on their Forms I-9, a form that verifies work eligibility of employees.
The review further showed multiple jobs and extremely high wages earned in the same quarter which is consistent with aggravated identity theft. In line with the patterns identified, Gonzalez-Rosales is alleged to have knowingly employed illegal aliens and assisted individuals in lying on their I-9 forms, claiming the individuals were U.S. citizens and using other individual’s names and identification to complete the forms for employment.
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.
HSI Arizona is continuing the investigation based on information seized during the execution of the search warrant with support from IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Phoenix, is prosecuting the case.
CASE NUMBERS: 26-3019MJ, 26-3017MJ, 26-3015MJ, 26-3016MJ
26mj3019_complaint_as_to_diego_gonzalez_rosales.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3017_complaint_as_to_edwin_flores_rosales_0_0.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3016_complaint_as_to_ludwin_benjamin_perez_velasco_.pdf us_dis_azd_2_26mj3015_complaint_as_to_salvador_villenueva_rosas.pdfRELEASE NUMBER: 2026-011_ Gonzalez-Rosales, Flores Rosales, Villenueva-Rosas, and Perez Velasco
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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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Arizona Man Who Shot at Border Patrol Agents Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office Seeks Full AccountabilityRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An Arizona man has been charged with Assault on a Federal Officer after he shot at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter that was assisting in his apprehension.
“There is no ambiguity here, shooting at any law enforcement officer—including federal agents—is a violent felony that attacks the rule of law and undermines universal American values. We will pursue every available charge to ensure the subject is held fully accountable under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The quick and coordinated reaction to the threat posed by this subject from all levels of Arizona law enforcement was key and demonstrates why local and federal cooperation keeps communities safer.”
According to the criminal complaint, filed in federal District Court on Jan. 27, U.S. Border Patrol agents were involved in a reactive human trafficking pursuit in rural southern Arizona, near Arivaca, when the suspect allegedly opened fire on the helicopter, manned by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent.
A Border Patrol agent on the ground then engaged and shot at the suspect, Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita. He was taken into custody, treated for his wounds and transported to a local hospital.
Through the cooperative efforts of federal and local law enforcement, it was determined that Schlegel was also wanted on a federal warrant for escape from custody, was convicted of multiple felonies—including alien smuggling—and has an order of protection against him in Pima county.
The complaint alleges violations of 18 USC 111 (Assault on a Federal Officer), 18 USC 922(g) (Prohibited Possession of a Firearm), and 8 USC 1324 (Transportation of an Illegal Alien). The United States Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate further violations of federal law.
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.
The FBI, Tucson office, is investigating the incident with assistance from Pima County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
CASE NUMBER: 26-01491MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-010_ Schlegel
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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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Tohono O'odham Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Child Abuse Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Stacie Marie Narcho, 47, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on Jan. 22, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Narcho previously pleaded guilty to Child Abuse.
According to court records, on or about Nov. 8–9, 2022, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Stacie Narcho knowingly and intentionally provided a minor with methamphetamine and fentanyl. As a direct result of Narcho’s actions, the victim overdosed and later died.
“This case is a stark reminder of the irreversible harm caused when adults expose children to dangerous drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “A young life was lost, and a family was forever changed. The District of Arizona will continue to hold individuals accountable when their choices place vulnerable children at risk and undermine the safety of our communities.”
"People who provide highly addictive and deadly drugs, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, to our youth will face the harshest extent of the law for their actions. This epidemic hurts families, communities, and in this case, took the life of a child," said FBI Phoenix Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Hooper. “We hope this sentence sends a message to anyone who harms our youth, that the FBI will pursue heartless criminals and ensure justice is served.”
The FBI, Tucson office, and the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona’s Tucson office, prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00440-SHR-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-008_Narcho
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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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Federal Law Enforcement Executing Search Warrants at Phoenix Locations as Part of a Long-Term InvestigationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – As part of a months-long criminal investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona, in coordination with other federal partners, is in the process of serving federal search warrants at 15 locations throughout the Phoenix area, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. The search warrants were authorized based on information presented to a federal judge and are being executed as part of a criminal investigation into felony violations of federal law.
Additional information will be forthcoming over the next few days as evidence is gathered, reviewed and evaluated for charging as appropriate.
This is an ongoing investigation, and information is limited at this time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal law enforcement entities in Arizona remain committed to protecting the public and the homeland, upholding the rule of law, and defending the interests of the American people.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-009_Federal Search Warrants
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 150 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Jan.17 through Jan. 23, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 150 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 87 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 45 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 15 cases against 17 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
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. Pablo Gomez-Luvanos. Gomez-Luvanos was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Jan. 19, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on June 11, 2019, after being convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Gomez Luvanos was sentenced to three-and-a-half years of imprisonment. 26-8044MJ, Phoenix.
United States v. Efrain Gutierrez-Perez. Gutierrez-Perez was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Jan. 19, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on Dec. 11, 2019, after being convicted of Aggravated Driving under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Gutierrez-Perez was sentenced to four months of incarceration and two years of probation. 26-8043MJ, Phoenix.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-007_January 26 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.