News

TUCSON, Ariz. – Michel Bacasegua-Barriga, the leader of a prolific transnational firearms trafficking organization operating in Nogales, Sonora, along the U.S.-Mexico border, was arrested last week by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, Fiscalía General de la República (FGR). The enforcement operation last week by the FGR is the result of extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico. In addition to Bacasegua-Barriga’s arrest, the operation resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 47, of Colorado City, Arizona, along with 10 of his followers, were indicted on May 18, 2023, by a federal grand jury on charges relating to a years-long conspiracy to travel across state lines in order to amass “wives” for Bateman, including minor girls. The grand jury returned a Second Superseding Indictment, which was unsealed today, in the case of United States of America v. Samuel Rappylee Bateman, et al.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protections, Office of Field Operations’ (OFO) Tucson Field Office and Border Patrol’s Tucson and Yuma Sectors announced today the results of drug interdiction operations along the border from March 6 through May 8. HSI and OFO’s Operation Blue Lotus, along with the Four Horsemen operation coordinated by the Border Patrol, seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine and interdicted more than a ton of fentanyl.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Chirag Patel, 38, most recently of Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced on May 8, 2023, by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $87,522.25 in restitution. Patel pleaded guilty to Computer Fraud.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Alfredo Perez-Rodriguez, 18, of Mexico, was arrested by the United States Border Patrol last week for Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Adbiel Martinez-Barrera, 21, of Mexico, was arrested on May 5, 2023, by United States Border Patrol agents for Assault on a Federal Officer and illegal entry into the United States.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Lopez-Loreto, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On February 9, 2023, Lopez-Loreto pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Andres Urias-Soto, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 96 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Because Urias-Soto was on supervised release for the offense of transporting illegal aliens for profit when he committed this offense, Judge Hinderaker imposed a sentence of 5 months consecutive for the violation of supervised release. Urias-Soto pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death and admitted to violating a condition of supervised release.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Carlos Alberto Castro-Ruiz, 26, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine before United States District Judge Steven P. Logan. A sentencing hearing is set for July 18, 2023.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Hermelindo Velazquez-Rivera, 45, of Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a total of 90 months in prison. Velasquez-Rivera pleaded guilty to Reentry of a Removed Alien and admitted to violating conditions of supervised release.

TUCSON, Ariz. –Brandon Hall, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 48 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release. Hall was convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Angelico Roa-Joachin, age 43, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 21, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Roa-Joachin was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien.