PCSO: Exotic dancer Maria Bustamante caught driving 6 illegal immigrants from Tucson to Phoenix

ELOY, AZ - Authorities say a woman, who claims to be an exotic dancer, was caught driving six illegal immigrants from Tucson to Phoenix.

Tim Gaffney with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office sent out a news release Wednesday that said it happened just after 8 p.m. Friday.

It all started when a deputy pulled over a 2004 Oldsmobile minivan on westbound Interstate 10 near milepost 216 for various traffic violations, Gaffney said.

The female driver was identified as 33-year-old Maria Bustamante, he said.

She reportedly had six men in the minivan with her who were "acting very nervous."

Gaffney said one of the men said "California" when asked where they were going.

When the deputy asked if they were all U.S. citizens, they shook their heads no, Gaffney said.

Bustamante said the father of her children is in a Texas jail, and she planned to drive there after dropping off the six men in Phoenix.

She reportedly said a friend asked her to drop them off.

Bustamante has been booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center for six counts of human smuggling.

The following are descriptions of the six men who have since been turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol, according to PCSO:

--Alejandro Santos, 36, of Puebla, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. illegally for the last month. It was his first time in the U.S. and he paid Bustamante $200 for the ride.

--Julio Cesar Carrillo Romo, 23, of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the last month and a half. This is fifth time in the U.S. and he paid $120 for the ride.

--Ramon Felix Valdez, 59, from Hermosillo, Sorora, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past month. He was deported twice and paid $40 for the ride.

--Joaquin Moroyoqui, 63, of La Constancia El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico said he’s been in the U.S. illegally for the past three months. He has been deported five times.

--Felix Fernando Solis Morales, 30, of Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. illegally for the last two months. This was his first time and paid $50 for the ride.

--Jose Antonio Lopez Moreno, 24, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico said he has been in the U.S. for the last two months. He said he owed Bustamante money for the ride.