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Fernando_Valdez-Benitez_P932507.jpg
Fernando Valdez-Benitez was one of 10 key members of a cartel arrested by the MCSO (Photo courtesy of the MCSO).

PHOENIX -- After a five-month investigation, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the MCSO arrested 10 key members of a cartel, including the kingpin who shouldn't have even been there.

"He's been deported eight times," Arpaio said. "Eight times and keeps coming back."

Detectives arrested the alleged leader, 35-year-old Javier Rito-Martinez, at his home in Laveen.

Arpaio said the group has made millions from smuggling people over the past four years. The group is accused of directing the flow of smuggling clients from Mexico's southern border into the United States.

Sheriff's deputies worked with special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations to track and arrest the 10 suspects.

KTAR Newsroom,

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  • Abuse
    wrote...
    The slow? or the FLOW?
    February 27, 2013 10:14 pm
    group is accused of directing the slow of smuggling clients please change the word 'slow' to 'flow'.
  • Abuse
    Solitaire wrote...
    Are We All That Dumb?
    February 27, 2013 11:14 pm
    Arrested at his home in Laveen. How interesting he owns a home here. I imagine he owns more then one. I would think he has one in Florida, Las Vegas and one in Washington D.C. That is so he can get closer to our congressmen and representatives to pass a buck. Arrested today by Arpaio and then let go tomorrow by dear old Obama. Don't think for one minute that Obama would want to cut off that flow of $$$'s going into his back pocket from the Cartel. Obama has unleashed an army of invaders onto the streets of America. It is time to wise-up and IMPEACH.
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    Arpaio collaborates with the Feds to
    February 28, 2013 12:06 am
    accomplish what he could not accomplish on his own. This is a good thing, his grandstanding notwithstanding.
  • Abuse
    Solitaire wrote...
    Know Whats Up Since Obama took Office
    February 28, 2013 12:07 am
    This administration in Washington wants to mess with our gun laws while they release these invaders to our streets. At this last gun show in town their was someone trying to buy up all the ammunition that was being sold. The sales people refused to sale it all to him. Have to wonder if it was not our own government using tax payer dollars or the Cartel. Next we'll be under house arrest. Better yet people that question what this government is doing will just be placed in prison or insane asylums. Google, "Veterans Being Denied Gun Rights By VA".
  • Abuse
    Solitaire wrote...
    Con't
    February 28, 2013 12:21 am
    Google, "Veteran Committed To Indefinite Detention Against Their Will"
  • Abuse
    Wrote wrote...
    Doing
    February 28, 2013 5:13 am
    the jobs Americans won't do.
  • Abuse
    Steve wrote...
    The Feds really did their jobs
    February 28, 2013 5:38 am
    "He's been deported eight times." The Sheriff, doing what the Feds won't.
  • Abuse
    2cents wrote...
    To get this straight .. . .
    February 28, 2013 6:53 am
    Napalitano reiterates that the border is secure . . . MCSO arrests 10 key people who have been running a thriving border encroachment business for at least four years . . . and meanwhile Obama is releasing detainees. It is like using black paint to disguise gaping holes in the wall, and then putting the house up for sale. It is what we voted for.
  • Abuse
    Constitutionalist wrote...
    Not enough deterrents.
    February 28, 2013 8:32 am
    I think one of the biggest problems is there is not enough of a deterrent to keep people from coming back into this country illegally. They need to make it so that if somebody is arrested for being in the country illegally for first offense, deportation and revoking any chance of becoming a legal immigrant in the future. Second offense, 10 years hard labor followed by deportation. Third and every other offense following, 20 years hard labor followed by deportation. Perhaps that would deter people coming back again and again.
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Illigals
    February 28, 2013 12:48 pm
    is why I moved out of AZ after living there for 37 years! Congratulations Arpaio, keep it up.

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