A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count indictment against Jesus Alberto Ibarra-Barraza for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, four counts of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit, and one count of Threats to Murder an Employee of the United States.
According to the Department of Justice, on March 16, 2022, Ibarra-Barraza, age 31, of Tucson, allegedly attempted to transport four undocumented noncitizens in his vehicle. After encountering law enforcement, Ibarra-Barraza stopped his vehicle, allowed the passengers to exit, then fled at a high rate of speed. Shortly after, he crashed his vehicle, resulting in serious bodily injury to himself. While at the hospital, Ibarra-Barraza verbally confronted a United States Border Patrol agent and threatened to kill the agent upon his release from the hospital.
Each charge in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.