Blademir Audeves Audeves, the owner of El Taco Loko in west Phoenix and two food trucks, was sentenced to prison in late October after his arrest for allegedly transporting, employing and housing illegal immigrants, as well as for owning a firearm as an illegal immigrant.
He pleaded guilty on August 20 to one count of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens. U.S. District Court Judge Diane Humatewa sentenced him to 20 months in prison for the first charge, to run concurrently with a 6-month sentence for the second charge. He was also ordered to serve 36 months of supervised release following his prison term. The sentences exceeded the 18 months prosecutors requested by two months.
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Audeves in July, seizing his food trucks, assets and properties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona issued a news release which said agents discovered at least 12 illegal immigrants working for Audeves, including several who lived on his properties.
One employee claimed he owed Audeves $12,000 for smuggling assistance, although Audeves denied paying for border crossings.
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