Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 109 border-related cases this week, according to a May 1 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charges include bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the United States after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The high number of filings highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts at the border between San Diego and Imperial counties and Mexico. The district is described as the fourth-busiest federal jurisdiction due to its large volume of border-related crimes.
Among recent arrests was Brandon Ramos Bonilla, a Mexican citizen who was charged with importing a controlled substance after officers allegedly found 61 pounds of cocaine hidden in his vehicle at Otay Mesa Port of Entry. In another case, Francisco Ramon Garcia and Antonio Ramos were arrested on charges related to attempting to bring in aliens for financial gain when their smuggling boat was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard off Point Loma with five undocumented Mexican nationals on board. Oscar Orozco Avilar was also arrested and charged with attempted entry after deportation during that incident.
On April 28, Fernando Vega-Sanchez was taken into custody at San Ysidro Port of Entry for allegedly attempting entry after deportation by claiming another identity without documents; authorities said he had been previously removed from the United States seven times.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by several federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as well as state and local law enforcement partners.
Officials remind that indictments and criminal complaints are allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
