Tucson Man Receives Prison Term for Human Smuggling

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 26, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard announced that Francisco Javier Villa, 39, of Tucson, today was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of human smuggling.

In April 2006, Villa was the head of a human smuggling operation that brought undocumented immigrants into the country illegally. Villa was one of four men arrested in this operation by the Arizona Financial Crimes Task Force. During the arrest, six undocumented immigrants were found being housed by Villa in the home of his codefendant, Ralph Acosta. The other defendants include:

  • Ralph Raymond Acosta, 26, of Tucson. He was sentenced earlier this month to one-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted human smuggling.
  • Mark T. McFarland, 57, of Tucson. He was sentenced earlier this year to three years probation for facilitation of money laundering.
  • Mario P. Vega, 23, of Tucson. He was sentenced earlier this year to three years probation for facilitation of money laundering.

Villa was sentenced by Pima County Superior Court Judge Nanette Warner. Assistant Attorney General Paul Eckerstrom prosecuted this case.