District of Arizona Charges 215 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

PHOENIX, Ariz. - During the week of enforcement operations from September 6, 2025, through September 12, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 215 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 99 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 99 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 16 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement is a key part of border vigilance, and prosecutors also charged 1 individual for assaulting a federal officer.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Isaia David Ralph Gutierrez, et al.: On September 10, 2025, Isaia David Ralph Gutierrez and Shay Nicole Fernandez were charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. Gutierrez, the driver, and Fernandez, the front seat passenger, were pulled over by a Pinal County Sheriff's Office deputy for state traffic violations. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy observed an individual wearing camouflage clothing and lying down on the rear passenger seat floorboard. The deputy suspected that Gutierrez was engaged in human smuggling and contacted U.S. Border Patrol for assistance. Border Patrol Agents responded to the scene to conduct an immigration inspection and learned that the rear seat passenger was a citizen of Mexico, illegal present in the United States. [Case Number: 25-MJ-05415]

United States v. Robin Estuardo Perez Ramos: On September 11, 2025, Robin Estuardo Perez Ramos, an illegal alien and citizen of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with Assault on a Federal Officer. While conducting surveillance, agents from ICE and ERO saw Perez Ramos, who had been ordered removed from the United States by an Immigration Judge in 2020, get into a vehicle and leave the area. ICE/ERO officers activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop Perez Ramos, but he fled, alternating between speeding up and hitting his brakes. Perez Ramos then put his vehicle in reverse and rapidly accelerated backwards towards the vehicle of one of the ICE officers. Perez Ramos hit the front bumper of officer's vehicle, causing damage, and then fled away at a high rate of speed. While fleeing, Perez Ramos appeared to initially lose control of his vehicle, causing him to accelerate across the median into oncoming traffic. The vehicle then spun around. For safety reasons, ICE/ERO deactivated their emergency equipment and tried to follow Perez Ramos covertly. ICE/ERO temporarily lost sight of the vehicle but located it soon after in a Walmart parking lot. A second ICE officer then attempted to stop Perez Ramos, but he again rapidly reversed and swerved into the officer's emergency vehicle, causing significant damage to the front passenger side. Perez Ramos then drove to an apartment complex, abandoned the vehicle, and ran into the apartment complex. Ramos Perez entered the apartment of a female occupant, who did not know Perez Ramos and was afraid for her and her children's safety. Perez Ramos was ultimately taken into custody. [Case Number: 25-MJ-05425]

United States v. Jose Eulice Arrendondo-Duran: On September 8, 2025, Jose Eulice Arredondo-Duran was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Jose Eulice Arredondo-Duran was previously removed from the United States in 2014 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Control Substance Act and Trafficking in Methamphetamine, both felony offenses, in the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, State of Nevada. In that case, Arredondo-Duran was sentenced to 12-48 months on the Conspiracy, and to 36-120 months on the Trafficking, with both counts to be served concurrently with one another. [Case Number: 25-MJ-05395]

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-147_September 12 Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, visit https://http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/Follow the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.