District of Arizona Charges 143 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week (DOJ)

PHOENIX, Ariz. - During the week of enforcement operations from Dec. 20 through Dec. 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 143 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 105 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 32 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 6 cases against 6 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 ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Dimer Oseas Nolasco-Mendez; United States v. Santiago Jeronimo-Jeronimo. The two defendants were charged, by complaints with Re-entry of Removed Alien on Dec. 24, 2025. According to the complaints, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers observed a vehicle traveling 90 mph in a 75-mph speed zone near Eloy, Arizona. The troopers initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle for invalid registration, speeding and failure to yield for an emergency vehicle. The troopers requested identification from the passengers, later identified as Nolasco-Mendez and Jeronimo-Jeronimo. Immigration checks confirmed that Nolasco-Mendez and Jeronimo-Jeronimo are citizens of Guatemala, unlawfully present in the United States. 25-8614MJ, 25-8613MJ Phoenix.

United States v. Edgar Valentin-Campos. Valentin-Campos was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on Dec. 22, 2025. As charged in the complaint, agents observed Valentin's vehicle parked along the side of a rural road next to a wash near Sells, Arizona. The location is commonly used for drivers to pick up illegal aliens for further transport into the United States. After agents turned around to investigate further, the vehicle then began traveling northbound on Federal Route 19. When agents initiated a vehicle stop, the vehicle failed to yield. As agents followed, the vehicle slowed down, almost coming to a stop, and four subjects exited the vehicle and ran into the desert. The vehicle then ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed, and ultimately, crashed into a ditch outside of Sells. The driver, Valentin-Campos, and two illegal aliens from Guatemala, were arrested. 25-MJ-12339-MSA, Tucson.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-181_December 30 Immigration Enforcement

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Contact

Public Affairs
Lennea Montandon
Telephone: (602) 514-7542
[email protected]

Updated December 30, 2025