TUCSON, Ariz. – Miguel Martinez-Meraz, 56, of Rancho San Felipe, Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 72 months in prison. Martinez-Meraz previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien. On January 16, 2025, Martinez-Meraz was apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.
At the time of his arrest, Martinez-Meraz was with a Chinese national who was unlawfully present in the United States. During the investigation, agents located the Chinese national’s brother who had been left behind in the desert. Martinez-Meraz admitted that he served as a foot guide for the two migrants through the desert near Ajo, Arizona. One of the migrants told agents that Martinez-Meraz beat his brother and held him at knifepoint to force him to continue moving.
Martinez-Meraz committed these offenses while under supervised release for a previous conviction. Agents from United States Border Patrol-Ajo Station conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arturo Aguilar, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00975-TUC-JGZRELEASE NUMBER: 2026-114_Martinez-Meraz# # #For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.