Mexican national gets prison time in smuggling case

One of seven co-defendants charged in the case, a Mexican national was sentenced to a term of imprisonment Tuesday in Yuma County Superior Court for attempting to carry backpacks filled with marijuana into the country earlier this year.

Following the terms agreed upon in his plea agreement, Superior Court judge Stephen Rouff sentenced Dionisio EsquerEscalante to two years in prison with credit for 109 days previously served for attempted importation of marijuana.

Prior to his sentencing Esquer-Escalante told the court that he is the only source of income for his wife and daughter. He added that his family lacks basic resources and the reason he entered the country illegally to carry marijuana was to make money so they could be better off.

In response Rouff replied that, according to court records, he has a few prior deportations and that he was being given the sentence he agreed to in the plea agreement.

Esquer-Escalante was among a group of eight suspected illegal entrants observed by Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents on Feb. 3 near the base of the Gila Mountains who were wearing camouflage clothing and carrying large square backpacks.

According to Superior Court records, when agents attempted to apprehend the suspects later that same evening, at approximately 11:30 p.m., they fled on foot, with five members of the group being caught by agents who pursued them. Four bundles and four backpacks were also found in the area.

Meanwhile, another Border Patrol agent found a member of the group hiding in a cave a short distance away and apprehended him. Inside the cave agents found water, medicine, solar panels, a two-way radio, binoculars and foam booties.

A seventh member of the group was apprehended a short time later while trying to run up into the mountains. Only one member of the group of suspected drug smugglers was not caught.

All seven members of the group were identified as Mexican nationals and determined to be in the country illegally. They, along with the 207 pounds of marijuana they were allegedly carrying, were taken to the Wellton Station for processing in accordance with Yuma Sector guidelines.