District of Arizona Charges 156 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

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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