Mexican national Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, was arrested on July 8 in Phoenix, Arizona. He faces charges of harboring an illegal alien, knowingly employing unauthorized aliens, improper entry by an alien, and being an alien in possession of a firearm. Angulo is set to appear in federal court today.
According to the criminal complaint, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating Angulo in March 2025 for allegedly employing illegal aliens at his taco restaurants in Phoenix. The investigation revealed that at least 12 illegal aliens were working for him, with some residing at his home in Laveen or another residence on 16th Avenue.
On July 8, HSI executed federal search warrants at Angulo’s home and restaurant locations as well as the second residence. Several Mexican citizens without legal permission to be in the U.S. were found inside the residences. Agents arrested Angulo without incident.
In the master bedroom closet of Angulo’s residence, agents discovered three firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Immigration records show that Angulo was previously encountered by authorities while illegally present in the U.S. in 2011 and voluntarily departed via Nogales, Arizona, in May 2021. At the time of his arrest on July 8, he did not have legal permission to be in the country and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At his taco restaurant locations, HSI agents also found Mexican citizens who lacked legal permission to be present or employed legally in the United States.
During this operation, two individuals identified as Christian Sagaste-Garcia and Jose Luis Ambriz-Cortes were also arrested and charged with re-entry of a removed alien. Both had been previously removed from the United States—Sagaste-Garcia in October 2024 and Ambriz-Cortes in February 2013.
These arrests are part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). This operation involves resources from various Department of Justice initiatives including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations while prosecution is handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation but does not imply guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
