During the week of enforcement operations from May 3, 2025, through May 9, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 314 defendants.
Specifically, the United States filed 117 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 166 aliens for illegally entering the United States.
In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 25 cases against 31 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Recent matters of interest include the United States v. Marco Antonio Ruelas-Solis: On May 3, 2025, Marco Antonio Ruelas-Solis, of Mexico, was found in possession of an FNS-9C nine-millimetre pistol and 40 rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition while target shooting along Forest Road 403 in the Tonto National Forest in Maricopa County.
Ruelas-Solis was charged with Possession of a Firearm by Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States and Reentry of a Removed Alien. [Case Numbers: MJ-25-0178; MJ-25-6183]
United States v. Clayton Line Wilhite: On May 4, 2025, Clayton Line Wilhite was arrested and charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien after he failed to yield at an immigration checkpoint.
After Wilhite failed to yield, law enforcement officers from Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection responded to the scene and attempted to effectuate a stop. Wilhite led officers on a short vehicle chase before striking another car from behind and pulling over.
Two illegal aliens from Mexico then exited the vehicle and tried to flee, but were detained by agents. Wilhite remained in the driver’s seat and was arrested without further incident. [Case number: MJ-25-07795]
