MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR ALIEN SMUGGLING
AND HIGH SPEED CHASE

TUCSON – United States District Judge John M. Roll sentenced Marco Antonio Niebla- Osuna, 24, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, to 60 months in prison here today for his involvement in the smuggling of illegal aliens that resulted in an August 2005 high speed chase south of Tucson.

On August 31, 2005 Border Patrol Agents were alerted to a Dodge pickup truck near Arivaca that was traveling at a high rate of speed. Agents saw several people, believed to be illegal aliens hiding in the back of the pickup driven by Niebla-Osuna. The defendant led border patrol agents on a high speed chase northbound on Interstate 19 for approximately 15 miles before he exited onto Duval Mine Road, and continued north on Old Nogales Highway. During this time, Niebla-Osuna was speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and recklessly passing vehicles. At one point, Niebla-Osuna crossed into the opposing lane of traffic, nearly slamming head on into a vehicle driven by a Border Patrol Agent who was attempting to warn motorists about Niebla-Osuna’s dangerous driving. Niebla-Osuna was ultimately located hiding in a home close to the airport and taken into custody.

Niebla-Osuna had been found guilty by a jury on October 5, 2006 of alien smuggling and illegal re-entry after deportation.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Border Patrol.

The prosecution was handled by Beverly K. Anderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-05-01824
RELEASE NUMBER: 2007-118(Niebla-Osuna)