3 MCSO officers arrested in drug, human smuggling investigation

PHOENIX - The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says three of the department's employees have been arrested as a result of an investigation into a drug and human smuggling operation.

At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said 12 people were arrested, including Deputy Alfredo Navarette and detention officers Marcella Hernandez and Sylvia Najera.

The three workers reportedly face felony charges. Seven other sheriff's employees were being investigated for their possible involvement.

Hernandez told authorities that she is eight-months pregnant with the child of Francisco Arce-Torres, the alleged drug ring's leader who court documents say is also a member of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

Navarette admitted to passing information about the sheriff's crime-prevention operations to the group, Arpaio said. The deputy also was accused of being part of a separate human trafficking ring that smuggled illegal immigrants from Arizona to California.

Detectives searching Navarette's home found two illegal immigrants inside, Arpaio said. Navarette, who was once assigned to sheriff's human smuggling unit and was cross-trained as a federal immigration agent, regularly smuggled loads of illegal immigrants, Arpaio said.

"We have enough violence without having moles on my own organization that put my deputies in danger," Arpaio said.

Navarette was an active member of the alleged drug smuggling group, helping launder money, transport drugs and even adding security cameras to the ringleaders' home, according to court documents. The operation produced heroin at a ranch in Mexico, and brought it to Phoenix in loads of 5 to 10 pounds each, authorities said.

As part of the investigation, officers on Tuesday seized 10 pounds of heroin, nearly $200,000 in cash, weapons, vehicles and stolen property.

Air15 video showed Goodyear police SWAT vehicles assisting in the undercover operation early Tuesday at a home near 69th Avenue and Pierce Street.

At a home near 69th Avenue and Cypress Street, a neighbor told ABC15 that an undercover agent said drugs were being sold from the home, including five pounds of heroin a day.

Hernandez, 28, was found with $16,000 cash when she was arrested Tuesday after arriving for work, Arpaio said. She was held on $2 million cash bond on charges that include transporting drugs and money laundering.

Navarette was arrested as he arrived for work Monday morning. He appeared in court Tuesday on charges including human smuggling, money laundering, controlling an illegal enterprise and conspiracy, and was ordered held on $1 million cash bond.

Najera's bond amount wasn't immediately available, but she was booked on charges of money laundering and controlling a criminal enterprise. She refused to talk to investigators.

"No one is above the law, and apparently no one if beyond the reach of drug trafficking organizations in Mexico," Montgomery said. "It's just one more illustration ... that the border is not secure. We have cross national transportation of drugs and illegal aliens that has now involved law enforcement officials here. And they've been able to do this and be ongoing in their efforts."

"Every organization, you're going to find some people who do wrong," Arpaio said. "It's human nature."