District of Arizona Charges 299 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 9, 2026, through May 15, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 299 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 147 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 137 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 15 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 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. Kyle Bowman Marsaw. Kyle Bowman Marsaw was charged by complaint on May 11, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On May 9, Border Patrol agents observed a Dodge Ram travelling southbound on a highway on the Tohono O'odham Nation then 13 minutes later traveling back north. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection, but the driver failed to yield. Agents pursued the vehicle, which reached speeds of 98 mph. The pursuit was terminated, and agents relayed the direction of travel to other agents in the area. Approximately 30 minutes later, the Ram activated a camera, and agents responded to the location, following tire tracks until the Ram was located near a cemetery, unoccupied. Agents then followed footprints and, with the assistance of a K9 unit and air asset, located an individual, later identified as Kyle Bowman Marsaw, hiding in the brush. The air asset was able to guide agents to two other individuals dressed in camouflage hiding in the brush who were determined to be citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Agents learned that Marsaw was the driver of the Ram and had picked up the two illegal aliens, who had been instructed by their guide to hide in the brush and wait to be picked up. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00426 TUC]

United States v. Derek Dialesandro Amperez-Toledo. Derek Dialesandro Amperez-Toledo was charged by complaint on May 13, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On May 12, Border Patrol Agents on the Tohono O'odham Nation were advised to be on the lookout for a black BMW potentially involved in human smuggling. Agents located the vehicle and attempted to stop it to conduct an immigration inspection, but the vehicle failed to yield and rapidly accelerated. Agents successfully deployed a vehicle immobilization device. The vehicle then drove off the road and continued for approximately one quarter of a mile before coming to a stop. Multiple individuals then exited the vehicle and ran away. Agents pursued them on foot and apprehended four subjects, including Amperez-Toledo and three citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. Agents learned that Amperez-Toledo was the driver of the vehicle who picked up the subjects. Once inside the vehicle, Amperez-Toledo instructed the subjects to get down inside the vehicle to avoid detection by Border Patrol. When the vehicle eventually stopped, the defendant instructed the subjects to flee on foot. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00619 TUC]

United States v. Ever Emmanuel Gonzalez. On May 11, 2026, Ever Emmanuel Gonzalez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Improper Entry by an Alien. On May 11, 2026, a Department of Public Safety trooper observed that a silver Ford Fusion’s license plate was not properly affixed and was consistently flapping as the car drove. The trooper initiated a traffic stop. The driver, Ever Emmanual Gonzalez, identified himself by his Mexican driver’s license and appeared visibly nervous. The Fusion had three occupants. After further investigation, the trooper contacted Border Patrol for assistance, who determined that Gonzalez and all three passengers were citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3135 – Phoenix]

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.

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:    2026-077_May 15, 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/

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