18 Members of Yuma-Based Alien Smuggling Ring Indicted for Conspiracy to Harbor and Transport Undocumented Noncitizens Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona Byline: Zach J. Stoebe Dateline: Phoenix, Arizona Date: 27 September 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gary M. Restaino, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, announces a three-count superseding indictment against 18 members of La Mesa, a Yuma-based alien smuggling ring, for Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens, Harboring Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens. The defendants charged include:

1. Victor Eduardo Araiza-Ponce, 24, of Yuma;
2. Antonio Aparicio III, 24, of Somerton;
3. Alonzo Esparza, 27, of Yuma;
4. Carlos Moreno-Serrano, 24, of Yuma;
5. Xasiel Noriega-Gonzalez, 21, of Somerton;
6. Joshua Guillermo Leon-Fuentes, 21, of Somerton;
7. Angel Rodriguez, 23, of Yuma;
8. Crystobal Figueroa, 23, of Somerton;
9. Saul Ponce Jr., 23, of San Luis;
10. David Leon-Pallanes, 23, of Yuma;
11. Manuel Uriel Alvarado, 26, of Yuma;
12. Elian Lopez, 24, of Yuma;
13. Raymundo Delgado-Diaz, 35, of Yuma;
14. Isreal Zeveda, 23, of Salinas, California;
15. Francisco Javier Esparza-Macias, 21, of Somerton;
16. Alex Chiquete, 25, of Yuma;
17. Hector Eduardo-Valdez, 31, of Yuma; and
18. Jose Gabriel Marquez-Mendiola, 32, of Yuma.

During the investigation, United States Border Patrol-Intelligence (BPI) arrested numerous drivers of undocumented noncitizens (UNCs) in the District of Arizona and the Central and Southern Districts of California. Based on information derived from those arrests, BPI learned of an alien smuggling organization known as La Mesa, which worked on behalf of the Mexico-based transnational criminal organization Los Rusos. Before the arrests of 18 of its members, La Mesa operated out of Yuma and Somerton.

The superseding indictment alleges that members of La Mesa were responsible for smuggling, or attempting to smuggle, hundreds of undocumented noncitizens across the United States-Mexico border and further into the United States, and that Moreno-Serrano was the leader of La Mesa. Other defendants charged were responsible for coordinating smuggling events, scouting for the drivers who were transporting the undocumented noncitizens, transportation activities, procuring and running stash houses, distribution of payments to drivers, and enforcement on behalf of La Mesa. La Mesa used rental vehicles, scout drivers, and coordinated entries to further its smuggling operations.

Over the course of the investigation, BPI learned La Mesa adapted to the arrest of its drivers and started to take smaller groups of UNCs, focusing on transporting undocumented noncitizens to Southern and Central California in an attempt to avoid further arrests. La Mesa used force, threats, and intimidation to successfully operate both in the United States and Mexico. Video evidence reveals that the organization kidnapped members and threatened and assaulted them as retribution for having been arrested.

The maximum penalty for each of the charges is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

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.

Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol–Yuma Field Intelligence, El Centro Border Patrol and Indio Border Patrol are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Arellano Edwards and Stuart J. Zander, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-23-01676-PHX-KML
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-128_Araiza-Ponce 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/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Public Affairs
Zach J. Stoebe
Telephone: (602) 514-7413
zachry.stoebe@usdoj.gov

Updated September 27, 2024

Press Release Number: 2024-128_Araiza-Ponce et al.