U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector continue to disrupt human and drug smuggling attempts, as reported by Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin. He recently highlighted the sector's activity on social media, referencing a local man who was sentenced to five years in prison for human smuggling.

Modlin provided a succinct summary of the week's events: "Week in Review - 16,800 Apprehensions - 104 Federal Criminal Cases - 22 Rescues - 3 Significant Arrests - 3 Narcotics Events - 2 Human Smuggling Events A Tucson resident with prior convictions was sentenced to 60 months in prison for human smuggling."

The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona identified the man as Clifford Valisto, a 63-year-old Tucson resident. In December, United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker sentenced Valisto to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On October 2, 2022, Valisto pleaded guilty to profiting from human smuggling charges and received an additional sentence of 12 months in prison to run concurrently with his five-year sentence for violating conditions of his federal supervised release from a previous human smuggling conviction.

According to the same news release, Valisto attempted to transport six undocumented migrants using a truck on July 19, 2023. Among the passengers was an unaccompanied minor aged fifteen. Witnesses reported that Valisto appeared to be struggling with controlling his vehicle and seemed drowsy as he approached a Border Patrol checkpoint. Agents subsequently discovered that all passengers were illegally present in the country.

Valisto has three previous instances of attempted human smuggling on his record, according to the news release. The investigation into these incidents was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and prosecuted in Tucson by the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona.