Arizona man accused of migrant trafficking, threatening to kill border agent
Sep 20, 2022, 8:00 PM
(Pixabay Photo)
(Pixabay Photo)
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.
