Phoenix Taco Restaurant Owner Arrested for Harboring Illegal Aliens and Firearm Possession

Blademir Angulo Audeves, a 42-year-old Mexican national, was arrested in Phoenix for harboring illegal aliens and employing them at his taco restaurants, a recent statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, detailed. The complaint alleges in part that through an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), at least 12 illegal aliens were identified as workers at Angulo's businesses, with some living at residences linked to him.

Angulo's initial court appearance took place following the execution of federal search warrants on July 8, this operation turned up several Mexican citizens both at his residence and various restaurant locations who lacked legal permission to reside or work in the United States, furthermore, at his Laveen home, agents discovered three firearms and ammunition, despite him being previously encountered by authorities in 2011 and departing the U.S. voluntarily in 2021, which barred him from possessing such items. Additional arrests made during the warrant executions included Christian Sagaste-Garcia and Jose Luis Ambriz-Cortes, both charged with re-entry after previous removals from the United States.

The operation, part of what's been dubbed "Operation Take Back America," aims to tackle illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), the initiative strives to consolidate resources from Justice Department programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). HSI is at the helm of this particular investigation with the prosecution being managed by the United States Attorney’s Office in Phoenix.

All individuals charged in connection with these crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Angulo, who now faces multiple violations including Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasizes the importance of due process stating that a criminal complaint is simply a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not conclusive evidence of guilt.