Eighteen individuals involved in a Yuma-based alien smuggling ring have been sentenced following a joint investigation by the United States Border Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The last of the defendants was sentenced on November 21, 2025, by United States District Judge Krissa M. Lanham.
The group, known as La Mesa, operated from Yuma and Somerton, Arizona, on behalf of the Mexico-based criminal organization Los Rusos. Authorities linked their activities to multiple cases involving illegal transportation of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border into California and Arizona.
Carlos Moreno-Serrano led La Mesa and managed operations that included organizing smuggling events, managing stash houses, distributing funds, and overseeing enforcement within the organization. The group was responsible for smuggling hundreds of people and used violence to maintain control over its members. This included incidents of kidnapping, robbery, and extortion directed at individuals working for them.
One notable event in January 2023 involved Saul Ponce Jr., Crystobal Figueroa, Angel Rodriguez, Antonio Aparicio III, and Joshua Leon-Fuentes kidnapping a man and threatening him with firearms in the desert. Another incident in mid-2023 saw members attempting to kidnap a woman who had failed to deliver migrants as agreed; she was threatened with being taken to Mexico for punishment before police intervened.
Throughout their operation from 2022 through September 2024, La Mesa members also endangered lives during high-speed attempts to evade law enforcement. On several occasions they used juveniles as drivers; one such attempt resulted in a crash that injured numerous passengers including a child and a pregnant woman.
United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated: “The facts of the criminal conduct here involving violence, kidnapping, firearms, and severe injury show why La Mesa or similar organizations engaging in harboring and transporting illegal aliens are so dangerous to our communities. The excellent efforts of our Border Patrol, and other law enforcement partners, are keeping Americans safe every day and we thank them for their hard work leading to the exceptional results in this case.”
The sentences handed down ranged from time served with supervised release or probation up to 90 months’ imprisonment for various defendants:
– Victor Eduardo Araiza-Ponce: Time Served plus three years’ supervised release
– Antonio Aparicio III: 68 months’ imprisonment
– Alonzo Esparza: 10 months’ imprisonment
– Carlos Moreno-Serrano: 90 months’ imprisonment
– Xasiel Noriega-Gonzalez: 78 months’ imprisonment
– Joshua Guillermo Leon-Fuentes: 60 months’ imprisonment
– Angel Rodriguez: 54 months’ imprisonment
– Crystobal Figueroa: 66 months’ imprisonment
– Saul Ponce Jr.: 30 months’ imprisonment
– David Leon-Pallanes: Three years’ supervised release
– Manuel Uriel Alvarado: 24 months’ imprisonment
– Elian Lopez: Twelve months’ probation
– Raymundo Delgado-Diaz: Three years’ probation
– Isreal Zeveda: Twelve months’ probation
– Francisco Javier Esparza-Macias: Twelve months’ supervised release
– Alex Chiquete: Twenty-four months’ probation
– Hector Eduardo-Valdez: Eighteen months’ probation
– Jose Gabriel Marquez-Mendiola: Eighteen months’ probation
Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle commented on the outcome saying, “The sentencing of the La Mesa smuggling organization members is a testament to the relentless pursuit of the rule of law and the cooperative efforts between the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bringing these smugglers to justice serves as a clear warning: the U.S. Government will hold individuals accountable for their criminal actions. I am extremely proud of our agents and their dedication to our mission, which ensures the safety of our communities and our great Nation.”
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol–Yuma Field Intelligence worked alongside El Centro Border Patrol and Indio Border Patrol during this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Arellano Edwards and Stuart J. Zander prosecuted the case.
For further details about this case or related prosecutions by this office visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
