TUCSON, Ariz. - A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a 10-count superseding indictment yesterday against Luis Barron-Sanchez, 19, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, Transportation of Illegal Aliens, Bringing in of Illegal Aliens, and Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon.

The indictment alleges that on January 24, 2008, Barron-Sanchez conspired with others to transport four illegal aliens for profit, that he transported four illegal aliens and brought them into the U.S. for profit and that he assaulted a Border Patrol agent with a vehicle. The agent was pinned between the passenger door and the frame of the vehicle Barron-Sanchez was driving. As Barron-Sanchez accelerated and drove at a high rate of speed, the agent lost his footing and fell. Barron-Sanchez was arrested as a result of this incident.

A conviction for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Transportation of Illegal Aliens, Bringing In of Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly and Dangerous Weapon, carry a maximum penalty of 10, 15 and 20 years in federal prison, respectively, and a $250,000 fine or both for each count. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Roll will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Raquel Arellano and Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-200-TUC-JMR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2008-087(Barron-Sanchez)