Owner of Taco Restaurants Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charge and Employing Unauthorized Aliens

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on August 20, to one count of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2025, before United States District Judge Humetewa.

In his plea, Audeves admitted that he owned and operated El Taqueria El Taco Loko LLC, which included a brick-and-mortar restaurant and two mobile restaurants in the Phoenix-metro area. As the owner and operator of the restaurants, Audeves knowingly hired and employed at least twelve unauthorized aliens, who were either not lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States or were not authorized to be employed in the United States.

Audeves, a Mexican citizen without legal authority to be in the United States, also admitted to knowingly possessing three firearms in July 2025, along with ammunition, all of which was prohibited because of his immigration status.

A conviction for Alien in Possession of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. A conviction for Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens carries a maximum penalty of six months of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $3,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom such a violation occurs.

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).

Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-01029
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-138_Audeves

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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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