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Three U.S. citizens and a Mexican man arrested for smuggling attempt in Southern Arizona
In a recent incident near Rio Rico, three U.S. citizens and a Mexican man were arrested on federal conspiracy charges for their alleged involvement in a smuggling attempt of eight foreign nationals. The arrests of Anthony Joseph Gavarone, Harlan Dawson Sorkin, Hector Solis, and Omar Osuna Armenta came after border agents witnessed a failed pick-up of unauthorized migrants by a man driving a black pickup truck pulling a trailer.
Aborted pick-up and attempted smuggling
Court records reveal that Solis, one of the suspects, directed the migrants to hide in the trailer under wood, cardboard, and a tarp. However, the plan was aborted when the driver stopped the pickup a short distance away, warning the migrants that Border Patrol agents were in the area. Subsequently, the migrants waited for Osuna Armenta to arrive in a Chrysler 300 sedan to transport them.
Overcrowded vehicle and arrest
Osuna Armenta managed to fit all eight migrants into the car, including three women in the trunk, and drove them to a home near the West Frontage Road of Interstate 19 in Rio Rico. Border agents followed the Chrysler and intervened, leading to the arrest of Sorkin, who claimed to be giving directions to the driver. Gavarone, another suspect, was found at the home with two additional undocumented migrants attempting to exit.
Denial and admission of ownership
Upon investigation, Solis initially denied owning the black pickup with a trailer but later admitted to it. He claimed to have driven to the brush to pick up wood and denied any involvement in the smuggling attempt. However, a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona charged Solis, Sorkin, Gavarone, and Osuna Armenta with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens.
Legal proceedings and material witnesses
The suspects appeared in federal court for their initial hearing, while depositions for five undocumented migrants held as material witnesses are scheduled for later dates. The case sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating human smuggling activities in the region.
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