Tucson Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Threats to Murder a Border Patrol Agent

TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Alberto Ibarra-Barraza, 31, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to a term of 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ibarra-Barraza pleaded guilty on February 27, 2023, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit and Threats to Murder an Employee of the United States.

On March 16, 2023, Ibarra-Barraza was transporting four undocumented noncitizens when he encountered law enforcement. Ibarra-Barraza stopped his vehicle, directed the passengers to exit, then fled at a high rate of speed. Ibarra-Barraza then crashed his vehicle sustaining serious injuries. While at the hospital, Ibarra-Barraza verbally confronted the victim, a United States Border Patrol Agent, and threatened to kill the victim upon his release from the hospital.

United States Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-22-01958-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-109_Ibarra-Barraza

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