18 Members of a Yuma-based alien smuggling ring have been indicted.

According to United States Attorney's Office in Phoenix, the 18 members of La Mesa, a Yuma-based alien smuggling ring, have been indicted for Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens, Harboring Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens. All but three of the defendants are in their 20's, and all but one reside in Yuma County. 

U. S. Border Patrol-Intelligence arrested numerous drivers of undocumented individuals in Arizona and California and were able to develop information to the organization, La Mesa, which worked for a Mexican-based transnational criminal organization known as Los Rusos. The indictment alleges that members of the Yuma-based group were responsible for smuggling hundreds of undocumented noncitizens across the U. S. La Mesa used rented vehicles, scout drivers and coordinated entries s part of their operation. They also allegedly used kidnapping, threats and assaults as retribution against members who had been arrested.

The maximum penalty for each of the charges is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.