Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - Yuma Sector agents arrested an admitted member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang near the Colorado River, last night.

About 8 p.m., an agent patrolling near County 8 ½ Street and the Colorado River heard noises coming from some vegetation located in the area. Upon further inspection of the noise, a group of about six individuals ran out of the bush and towards the river. The agent was able to successfully arrest three in the group while the others absconded to Mexico.

Fingerprint checks identified the subject as an aggravated felon with a history of criminal activity, focusing mainly in the San Francisco, California area, dating back to 1993. The subject has been arrested for murder, attempted murder, evading a police officer, fugitive from justice, robbery, numerous drug offenses, possession of stolen property, and three deportations from the U.S. He has arrests in the States of California, Nevada, and Arizona.

“Border Patrol agents encounter criminals on a routine basis,” said Chief Patrol Agent Paul Beeson, “this is a fine example of our agents safeguarding our borders from a dangerous felon.”

The admitted gang member was prosecuted for re-entry after deportation, illegal entry, and was served with a reinstatement of prior deportation orders under Operation Streamline.

The other two members in the group had no criminal history and had only met the subject a day prior to their entry. They were prosecuted for illegal entry under Operation Streamline.