Arizona man accused of migrant trafficking, threatening to kill border agent

PHOENIX – An Arizona man accused of migrant trafficking and threatening to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month, authorities said Tuesday.

Jesus Alberto Ibarra-Barraza, 31, of Tucson, was indicted Sept. 8 on four counts of transportation of an illegal alien for profit and one count each of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit and threats to murder a federal employee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said in a press release.

The maximum penalty for each charge is 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Four people in the country without legal permission were allegedly in Ibarra-Barraza’s vehicle when he had an encounter with law enforcement on March 16, according to the release.

He stopped to let the migrants out before speeding away but ended up in a crash that left him seriously injured.

While hospitalized, he allegedly verbally confronted a Border Patrol agent and threatened to kill him after he was released.

The District of Arizona’s Tucson office is prosecuting the case.

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