A trio of Arizona agencies accomplished justice for local victims of organized crime.
Earlier this month, officials with the Arizona Department of Public Safety along with Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell held a press conference to announce the arrests of four people who were connected to a string of vehicle thefts in Maricopa County.
“These vehicles were transported into Mexico to continue the efforts and further goals of transnational criminal organizations. And in this case a total of 22 high-end vehicles were recovered with an estimated worth of 1.4 million dollars due to the great work of our vehicle theft task force detectives,” said Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Lt. Col. Ken Hunter.
County Attorney Mitchell thanked her law enforcement partners at the state department and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. She added, “And let me be very clear, my office will not tolerate enterprises that target the hardworking people of Maricopa County. We are committed to pursuing justice and holding those who engage in organized crime accountable for their actions.”
Thank you to our great law enforcement partners at @Arizona_DPS and @mcsoaz.
And let me be very clear, my office will not tolerate enterprises that target the hardworking people of Maricopa County. We are committed to pursuing justice and holding those who engage in organized… https://t.co/BMqKGbVCtF
— Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell (@Rachel1Mitchell) December 3, 2024
The law enforcement officials revealed in their press conference that the stolen vehicles were taken from the Phoenix-metro region to the U.S.-Mexico border. Mitchell shared that each of the individuals indicted are facing a dozen charges of means of transportation, among other felony counts that were included by the grand jury.
Mitchell has been extremely proactive during her tenure as Maricopa County’s top prosecutor in helping to enforce the law against any and all organized retail theft rings operating within her jurisdiction. She faced a competitive general election this past fall yet emerged victorious over her Democrat opponent to secure her first full term in office. After her race was called, Mitchell stated, “I want to assure you that I will continue to fight against any efforts that would allow Maricopa County to become another Los Angeles, where crime is rampant and public safety is compromised. I will continue to collaborate closely with our dedicated law enforcement partners to address the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to serving our community and keeping Maricopa County safe.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Barring a turn of events with additional ballots being tabulated from the November General Election, Maricopa County Republicans appear to be holding onto their positions for the upcoming term of office.
After Tuesday’s November General Election, a number of Maricopa County Republicans are likely returning and / or ascending to positions of leadership.
As of this report on Thursday night, Eddie Cook received 54.36% of the vote for re-election to County Assessor.
Rachel Mitchell acquired 55.01% of the vote to return as County Attorney.
Justin Heap won 52.56% of the vote to assume the position of County Recorder. Heap is currently a state representative.
In a statement, Heap said, “I look forward to immediately beginning the work of transitioning into the office, and working with the legislature to develop a common sense legislative agenda that will make our elections more effective, efficient, and most importantly, honest, while allowing us to deliver faster election results in the 2026 and 2028 elections.”
Shelli Boggs obtained 51.85% of the vote for County School Superintendent.
Jerry Sheridan received 53.78% of the vote for County Sheriff.
Sheridan posted a statement to his X account, writing, “The real work now lies ahead as we work with the community, the Board of Supervisors, and the amazing employees at MCSO to rebuild the Sheriff’s Office to better protect the people we are entrusted to serve. To those voters out there that didn’t support my campaign, I want you to know that I will work hard to earn your trust and support. I will keep the promises I made during this campaign, especially treating every person with dignity and respect, and protecting the civil rights of all Maricopa County residents.”
John Allen was unopposed for his reelection bid for County Treasurer.
As of Thursday’s report of ballot tabulation, Republicans would control the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors with a 4-1 split. Two races – both with a Republican leading – are within three percent or less.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Democratic candidate for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO), Tamika Wooten, filmed a video for her campaign in the courtroom while on the clock.
Wooten filmed the video last month on September 21, posted to her campaign Facebook page as “A Day in the Life of Tamika Wooten!”.
Wooten explained in her video that she had spoken with LD3 voters at Black Mountain Democrats earlier that morning, and that she was now about to hear the cases of individuals arrested the night before and that morning. Wooten then told viewers that she would speak at Sun City Grand.
“It’s my honor to serve, and it’s all in a day’s work,” said Wooten.
Yikes 🚨
Democrat Tamika Wooten filmed a campaign video in the courtroom … in her judge's robes … while she was on the clock.
As a progressive candidate, Wooten has promised to not prosecute abortionists or criminalize abortions, limit mandatory minimum sentencing, and expand diversion sentencing for the mentally ill and drug addicted who commit crimes or abuse drugs openly. Wooten stated on her campaign website that she would only be prosecuting “serious crimes.”
“I’ll prioritize alternatives to incarceration for minor offenses so we can: reduce prison populations, save millions in taxpayer dollars, [and] give hurting Maricopa County communities a chance to heal,” says Wooten’s campaign website.
In an interview earlier this year, Wooten said that she would treat crimes committed by the mentally ill or drug addicted as “health issues” instead of punishable crimes.
“I want to treat mental illness and substance abuse as a health issue not criminal justice issue and by reallocating our money and creating diversion programs for those who are charged or those who have mental illness,” said Wooten.
Wooten also said she would work to expand programs to end recidivism, such as providing education to prisoners.
MCAO currently engages in diversion programs and prioritizes heavier prosecution for violent crimes. One of the newest programs concerns felony diversion for parents or guardians charged with child abuse, neglect, endangerment, or a related offense whose circumstances of offense relate to substance use, particularly opioid use.
During that interview, Wooten also indicated that she wouldn’t prioritize illegal immigration crimes, instead focusing on “higher-level crimes.”
In a more recent campaign video posted last month, Wooten said that she would refuse to prosecute abortions at all. Wooten said as much during last month’s debate with her Republican opponent, current Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
“As your next county attorney, I will always defend your right to choose and our doctors’ right to provide healthcare,” said Wooten in her campaign video.
“A prosecutor does have judicial discretion. I will focus my efforts overall on keeping communities safe, rather than policing a woman’s womb,” said Wooten during the debate.
As AZ Free Newsreported last month, Wooten has a history of erring on the side of criminals. Prior to serving as a judge, Wooten defended human traffickers and pleaded down their cases to reduced sentencing.
In that same reporting, Wooten made remarks in a closed-door meeting promising to not prosecute under the controversial ballot proposal HCR 2060, the “Secure the Border Act.” If approved by voters this November, that proposal would make illegal immigration a state crime, which would allow local law enforcement to make arrests and local judges to order those convicted to leave the country.
“We don’t need to patrol our citizens,” said Wooten.
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As the race for Maricopa County Attorney nears its end, the records of both incumbent, Republican Rachel Mitchell, and Democrat challenger Tamika Wooten have rightly been subject to scrutiny.
An in-depth investigation into past litigation handled by Wooten has revealed that, in addition to voicing direct opposition to the “Secure the Border Act” ballot initiative, the Democratic candidate defended at least a dozen criminals charged with human smuggling related offenses as a private attorney under her previous married name “Tamika Cheatham.”
Of the twelve examples of Wooten defending human traffickers, eleven were issued suspended sentences and ten were given unsupervised probation. The offenses these men were charged with ranged from smuggling (class 2 and 4 felonies) to conspiracy to commit smuggling (a class 4 felony,) all of which Wooten fought, often successfully to reduce.
At least one client, Sergio Gonzalez-Sanchez, was charged with smuggling a minor and received a more severe charge: a class 2 felony, for intentionally transporting or procuring the transportation of a human being below the age of 18 who was not accompanied by a family member.
In the 2009 case of Fernando Gomez-Hernandez, the suspect was charged with smuggling, a class-4 felony, and according to court documents, “Intentionally Transported Or Procured The Transportation Of Human Beings, For Profit Or Commercial Purposes.” Gomez-Hernandez was reportedly “the driver” and the arresting law-enforcement officers “immediately recognized,” the situation as “a human smuggling incident.”
“I immediately recognized this as a human smuggling incident. The driver who was identified as Fernando Gomez with a date of birth of REDACTED, by California identification card he gave me. Fernando only spoke Spanish, and the remainder of the conversation was conducted in such. Fernando said he was driving to Flagstaff, Arizona to drop off his friends. Fernando did not know the names of any of the persons in the vehicle nor was he related to any of them.”
The people Gomez-Hernandez was smuggling were “lying down in the rear of the van,” were visibly “scared,” and “were shaking,” according to police. “A traffic stop was initiated and upon contact with the occupants of the van, police noted numerous persons in the back seat and lying down in the rear of the van. Officers noted the subjects appeared scared, they failed to make eye contact and were shaking.”
The smuggler was plead down to a class-5 felony: “Attempt to Commit Smuggling” and served a six-month sentence with 100 days credit for time served.
In another case Wooten defended in 2009, Carlos Figueroa Ramirez was wearing “clean clothes, and newer shoes,” whiel smuggling people in the back of his truck “covered in dirt and debris.”
According to the court documents, the officer explained, “I approached the vehicle, saw one male driver who was later verbally identified as Carlos Ramirez Figueroa with a date of birth of REDACTED. In the back seat of the truck was six humans that were attempting to conceal themselves. Based on my training and experience I believed this to be a human smuggling load. The driver was in clean clothes, and newer shoes. The rest of the passengers appeared to have been in the desert for quite a few days and were covered in dirt and debris from trees and shrubs.”
In a plea deal arranged by Wooten, Ramirez Figueroa was sentenced to serve a six-month sentence in the county jail with a credit for 89 days served after which the remaining sentences for additional counts suspended.
In one case, Guillermo Vazquez-Espinoza pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Smuggling working with a person he believed to be a coyote, a person smuggling people for profit. In another, Alvaro Ruiz-Alcala was also charged with Conspiracy to Commit Smuggling with five other people believed to by coyotes within a residence. Jose Valentin Nunez-Yanez was traveling in a vehicle that was “part of the agreement made with the coyote to have him transported to the State of California.” Guillermo Vazquez-Espinoza was in the act of attempting to contract a coyote for transport to North Carolina. And Jose Guadalupe Cervantes-Diaz was reportedly conspiring to commit human smuggling to New York as part of an agreement with a coyote.
These cases merely represent the most egregious of the dozen researched. But all point to a consistent pattern of legal maneuvering to arrange the most lenient possible sentences for human smugglers and those willfully conspiring to be smuggled.
Wooten’s litigation history in this area provides vital context for her political positions which followed.
In audio uncovered by AZ Free News, researchers revealed that Wooten, attending a closed-door meeting, expressed her explicit opposition to HCR 2060, the “Secure The Border Act,” which would permit Arizona Law Enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration and human smuggling. Wooten warned the Maricopa County Young Democrats on August 26th, “We have [HCR] 2060 that’s going to come down the pipe,” and told the members “As County Attorney, I’m not going to allow racial profiling for stops” claiming, “We don’t need to patrol our citizens.”
As Maricopa County Attorney, Wooten would be positioned to effectively stop the meaningful prosecution of human smuggling in the most populous county of Arizona, the fourth largest in the nation, by the third largest public prosecutorial agency in the United States. Based on her statement to the Young Democrats and her history of consistently pushing for slap on the wrist sentences for human smugglers, there’s every indication that she will.
Arizona’s top county prosecutor is setting her sights on teen violence within her jurisdiction.
Earlier this month, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced the start of ‘Report, Don’t Repost,’ which “tackles the growing issue of teen violence fueled by the sharing of violent content on social media platforms rather than reporting those incidents to law enforcement.”
In a press conference to promote this new campaign by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies, Mitchell shared that “in 2023, the number of submittals for first-degree murder involving juveniles surged by 350%, rising from 6 cases in 2022 to 27 cases in 2023. Similarly, submittals for aggravated assault saw a 108% increase, with cases rising from 12 to 25 between 2022 and 2023. Overall, total referrals of juveniles charged as adults increased by 32% during the same period.”
The veteran prosecutor said, “When a video shows up online or on social, all we know is what we can see. We may not have the names of the people in the video or know where the fight occurred. We also may not know what happened just before or after the video begins and ends. It makes it infinitely harder for police to investigate and for my lawyers to prosecute.”
Mitchell added, “My job as a prosecutor is to build a strong case. Encouraging the community to report these incidents instead of sharing them online is an excellent way to do that.”
The law enforcement agencies on board with this campaign are Phoenix Police, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Apache Junction Police, Arizona State University Police, Buckeye Police, Chandler Police, Gilbert Police, Glendale Police, Goodyear Police, Mesa Police, Queen Creek Police, Surprise Police, and Tempe Police.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office posted a graphic of the campaign to highlight the importance of the issue.
Additionally, two Phoenix Police Department officers discussed the new campaign in the aftermath of the announcement.
According to the release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, “The campaign includes a range of educational resources for parents, educators, and teens that highlight the consequences of sharing violent content.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
