United States District Judge Krissa M. Lanham, District, on Nov. 21, 2025, sentenced the 18th and final defendant in a joint operation investigated by United States Border Patrol along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona.

The Border Patrol became aware of an alien smuggling organization known as La Mesa after connecting transportation of illegal alien cases in Arizona and central and southern California. Prior to the arrest of the 18 members in September 2024, La Mesa, who worked on behalf of the Mexico-based transnational criminal organization Los Rusos, operated out of Yuma and Somerton, according to a press release.

Members of La Mesa were responsible for smuggling or attempting to smuggle hundreds of undocumented individuals across the United States-Mexico bord

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