An illegal alien, Ramses Cortes-Cordova, wanted in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in April 2025 has been apprehended at the international border, following a months-long investigation by Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office detectives and federal partners.
In April 2025, Mayer area deputies responded to a report of a sexual assault at a gas station in Cordes Junction. The adult female victim was in the shower stalls when Cortes-Cordova entered the stall she was occupying. Cortes-Cordova forcefully pinned the victim against the wall, preventing her escape, and sexually assaulted her. The victim eventually managed to break free and immediately reported the incident to law enforcement.
Following an extensive investigation to identify the suspect, detectives determined that he was Cortes-Cordova, a Mexican citizen. During the investigation, detectives noted that Cortes-Cordova had frequently crossed the border before the assault. Working closely with the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office (YCAO), YCSO secured a full extradition warrant for the suspect.
On Monday, December 8, 2025, Cortes-Cordova attempted to cross the border into Arizona at a checkpoint. He was immediately flagged and apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents before being turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“This is a criminal alien who came into this country, allegedly committed this heinous crime and fled back to Mexico, thinking he could escape justice here. Fortunately, our team never stopped working to identify him and ensure he would answer for his crime and bring justice for his victims,” Sheriff Rhodes said.
Accusations aside, for the moment, how was he here illegally if he was nabbed at a border checkpoint? Fake docs, maybe? Insufficient info/research, here.