Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from March 13-15

PHOENIX — From a human smuggling operation to Southwest Airlines stopping service at two major U.S. airports, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from March 13-15.

Federal agents thwart human smuggling operation in north Phoenix, find 19 people in home

Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a search warrant earlier in March and found 19 people in a north Phoenix home who had been illegally smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The residence that was subject to the search warrant for human smuggling on March 2 is located at 1535 West Desert Cove Avenue.

Investigators also arrested two “load drivers who also acted as caretakers of the residence” identified as Gabriel Garcia-Lopez and Alvaro Ojeda-Gomez, according to court records from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

The 19 individuals found in the home, referred to as “the Ark Apartment” in court documents, were all taken to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Phoenix Field Office for processing.

One of the people smuggled into the Ark Apartment said their final destination was Tennessee.

A second living space, which is located at 11045 North 17th Avenue, was also part of the investigation and HSI agents arrested a man and woman attempting to leave the area in a white Chevrolet Equinox.

The man, who was identified as Iven Jair Jonathan Monjarez-Perez, told agents in Spanish that “he is a citizen of Mexico and had no legal documentation to be lawfully present in the United States.” He added that various people in Mexico will pay him $100 per individual he successfully smuggles into the Ark Apartment.

Monjarez-Perez said he oversees Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez and that his primary employer is known as “Pinki” and based out of Mexico. Ojeda-Gomez admitted to agents that they are from Mexico and not legally present in the U.S., while Garcia-Lopez “elected not to make a statement without the presence of a lawyer.”

Court documents signed off by HSI special agent Scott Toole alleged that Monjarez-Perez, Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez “did knowingly and willfully combine, conspire, confederate and agree with persons known and unknown, to transport and move within the United States aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law.”

Southwest Airlines to discontinue service to 2 major US airports

Arizonans will soon lose access to two major U.S. airports on Southwest Airlines after the carrier announced it is discontinuing service to them.

The airline announced Friday that it will no longer offer flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport starting June 4.

Southwest said the move is part of an ongoing effort to refine its network. It added that operating at Chicago O’Hare has been “challenging.”

Flyers in the Valley will still be able to travel to Chicago and Washington D.C. using Southwest, but they will have to fly into Chicago Midway International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The airline noted that it offers service to more than 80 destinations from Chicago Midway, including 15 markets it served from Chicago O’Hare.

In addition, it will offer up to 271 combined departures to 79 nonstop destinations from BWI Marshall Airport and Reagan National Airport.

According to Southwest, employees affected by the service discontinuations will have the opportunity to bid for open positions within the company.

US Marshals arrest Arizona fugitive in New Jersey

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) arrested an Arizona fugitive in New Jersey on money laundering charges on Wednesday.

Humberto Ortiz was arrested in the town of Marlton, located about 20 miles east of Philadelphia, and will be extradited to Arizona, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Ortiz had been a fugitive since 2015 when he fled from Arizona to New Jersey. He was wanted in Arizona for conspiracy to commit laundering of monetary instruments and laundering monetary instruments, authorities said.

“Humberto Ortiz thought he could hide from the consequences of his actions; however, the U.S. Marshals will continue to search for and apprehend fugitives no matter how far or how long they try to evade justice,” Van Bayless, United States Marshal for the District of Arizona, said in a release.

Texas developer to build Paradise Valley enclave near Ritz-Carlton development

Paradise Valley Town Council has approved the entitlement of four luxury home sites to be developed by a Texas company within walking distance of The Ritz-Carlton proposed development.

The plat was recorded on March 4.

With the subdivision now officially in place, development can begin on what will become one of the most exclusive new enclaves in Arizona, said Nathan Waite of Compass.

Waite and David Larchez, also of Compass, are handling sales on behalf of the developer, 3S Real Estate Investments.

This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.

Suspects, victims identified after fatal shooting at Tempe motel

The suspects and victim connected to the fatal Motel 6 shooting in Tempe were identified Friday.

The shooting took place Monday near Broadway Road and Roosevelt Street around 11 p.m., according to the Tempe Police Department. Officers who responded to the scene learned that three people had been involved in an argument. One suspect shot the victim, and both suspects fled the scene, police said.

The victim, later identified as John Philips, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Philips later died, authorities said.

Three days later, officers found and arrested the suspects, later identified as 27-year-old Regan Roussel and 37-year-old Nicholas Mullaney.

Roussel was arrested on charges of premeditated murder in the first degree and a fugitive from justice warrant.

Mullaney was arrested on charges of premeditated murder in the first degree and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.

Police believe this was an isolated incident that didn’t threaten the community.

The investigation remains ongoing.

KTAR News Web Content Editor David Veenstra contributed to this report.

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