TUCSON, Ariz. – Miguel Martinez-Meraz, 56, of Rancho San Felipe, Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 72 months in prison. Martinez-Meraz previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien.
On January 16, 2025, Martinez-Meraz was apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of his arrest, Martinez-Meraz was with a Chinese national who was unlawfully present in the United States. During the investigation, agents located the Chinese national’s brother who had been left behind in the desert. Martinez-Meraz admitted that he served as a foot guide for the two migrants through the desert near Ajo, Arizona. One of the migrants told agents that Martinez-Meraz beat his brother and held him at knifepoint to force him to continue moving.
Martinez-Meraz committed these offenses while under supervised release for a previous conviction.
Agents from United States Border Patrol-Ajo Station conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arturo Aguilar, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00975-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-114_Martinez-Meraz
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Arizona — U.S. Department of Justice press release.