ELOY - Authorities say a woman, who claims to be an exotic dancer, was caught driving six illegal immigrants from Tucson to Phoenix.
Tim Gaffney with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office sent out a news release Wednesday that said it happened just after 8 p.m. Friday.
It all started when a deputy pulled over a 2004 Oldsmobile minivan on westbound Interstate 10 near milepost 216 for various traffic violations, Gaffney said.
The female driver was identified as 33-year-old Maria Bustamante, he said.
She reportedly had six men in the minivan with her who were "acting very nervous."
Gaffney said one of the men said "California" when asked where they were going.
When the deputy asked if they were all U.S. citizens, they shook their heads no, Gaffney said.
Bustamante said the father of her children is in a Texas jail, and she planned to drive there after dropping off the six men in Phoenix.
She reportedly said a friend asked her to drop them off.
Bustamante has been booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center for six counts of human smuggling.
The following are descriptions of the six men who have since been turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol, according to PCSO:
--Alejandro Santos, 36, of Puebla, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. illegally for the last month. It was his first time in the U.S. and he paid Bustamante $200 for the ride.
--Julio Cesar Carrillo Romo, 23, of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the last month and a half. This is fifth time in the U.S. and he paid $120 for the ride.
--Ramon Felix Valdez, 59, from Hermosillo, Sorora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past month. He was deported twice and paid $40 for the ride.
--Joaquin Moroyoqui, 63, of La Constancia El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past three months. He has been deported five times.
--Felix Fernando Solis Morales, 30, of Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. illegally for the last two months. This was his first time and paid $50 for the ride.
--Jose Antonio Lopez Moreno, 24, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. for the last two months. He said he owed Bustamante money for the ride.
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k33j88 posted at 7:43 am on Thu, Nov 15, 2012.
Mr. McCellan would welcome these "hard-working immigrants" who just want a "better life" for themselves and their families. Who knows-----Maybe their children can be part of the "Dream Act"!
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:27 am on Thu, Nov 15, 2012.
This is noteworthy!
--Julio Cesar Carrillo Romo, 23, of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the last month and a half. This is fifth time in the U.S. and he paid $120 for the ride.
--Ramon Felix Valdez, 59, from Hermosillo, Sorora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past month. He was deported twice and paid $40 for the ride.
--Joaquin Moroyoqui, 63, of La Constancia El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past three months. He has been deported five times.
So, three out of six have been here MULTIPLE times (and it wasn't mentioned for the last person). More than once is a FELONY! Tell me President Obama, are you going to ignore that as well?
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:23 am on Thu, Nov 15, 2012.
Well, another shining example of how "secure" our southern border is! It makes you wonder how myopic is President Obama's view of reality.
loose stool posted at 4:06 am on Thu, Nov 15, 2012.
Thats one ugly dancer, she wasnt making any money danceing so she turned to smuggling. Deport her along with the others after they spend 6 months on a road crew picking up trash.
exit526 posted at 7:50 pm on Wed, Nov 14, 2012.
Why is it that PCSO's big newsworthy hits on smuggled drugs or smuggled humans are mostly all taking place on Interstate 10?
What about crimefighting aloing the rest of Pinal County's state highways and local roads? Not so "easy pickin's" there? Real police work.
Is that the best Babeu's little ones can do to make him look good? The election is over. Put Gaffney back on the shelf (where he belongs) until 2016.
And what's with this lady's claim to being an "exotic dancer?" Sounds almost as believeable as Babeu's earlier claim that he was "thick and caliente."