(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 28, 2007) The Attorney General’s Office today announced the indictments of 48 members of two human smuggling organizations.
The indictments followed an eight-month investigation by a task force comprised of the Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. One of these human smuggling organizations was led by Roman Robaina, who lives near Miramar, Florida. The two human smuggling organizations were responsible for smuggling in more than 15,000 illegal immigrants a year at a cost of $30 million.
The following defendants were arrested today and served with indictments:
- Roman Robaina, 45, of Florida: Robaina was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Floriberto Martinez-Pacheco, 30, of Phoenix: Martinez-Pacheco was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Marcela Martinez-Pacheco, 28, of Phoenix: Martinez-Pacheco was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Isai Zuniga-Morales, 22, of Phoenix: Zuniga-Morales was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Jesus Orlando Hernandez, 28, of Phoenix: Hernandez was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Sulema del Carmen Martinez Ponce, 49, of Phoenix: Martinez was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of participating in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Ubaldo Ramos, 29, of Phoenix: Ramos was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Tony Duc Tran, 38, of Phoenix: Tran was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Elvia Zuniga-Alavez, age unknown, of Phoenix: Zuniga-Alvaez was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- Patricia Mireya Castro Ruiz, 38, of Phoenix: Ruiz was indicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of smuggling of human beings for profit, money laundering and illegal use of a wire or electronic communication.
- The following defendants were arrested today in connection with the investigation:
- Jose Luis Luna-Gonzalez, 38, of Phoenix: Luna-Gonzalez was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise and one count of smuggling of human beings for profit.
- Alfonso Julian-Julian, 21, of Phoenix: Julian-Julian was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise and one count of smuggling of human beings for profit.
- Omar Navarrette Sanchez, 19, of Phoenix: Sanchez was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of assisting in a criminal syndicate, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise and one count of smuggling of human beings for profit.
The suspects were booked into Maricopa County Jail and are awaiting arraignment. Assistant Attorneys General Theodore Campagnolo, Jane McLaughlin, Andrei Cherny and Phillip Garrow are prosecuting this case.
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