Illegal alien caught with 200 lbs. of marijuana

By Greg Jones, staff writer
Published on Sunday, December 21, 2003 12:33 PM MST

U.S. Border Patrol agents found more than 200 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of a vehicle heading west on Hwy. 70 near Fort Thomas on Wednesday morning.

The driver of the vehicle, Juan Marquez-Perez, 28, is an undocumented alien from Chihuahua, Mexico.

He attracted the attention of Border Patrol agents working the area looking for alien smugglers by "acting nervous" as he drove by.

Agents Joe Sinohui and Brandon Freeman reported the driver of the white Nissan Maxima "stared straight ahead and avoided eye contact" as he passed their marked patrol vehicle.

The agents followed the car and ran a registration check on the license plate.

The vehicle was registered out of Glendale. The agents reported that many of the cars alien smugglers use are registered in the same area.

Sinohui and Freeman pulled alongside the Maxima to further observe the driver.

"The driver maintained a rigid posture and would not look in our direction," Sinohui wrote in his report. "We maintained this position alongside the vehicle for approximately 10 seconds and he avoided eye contact with us throughout. He then covered his face with his left arm in an attempt to conceal his nervousness."

This unusual behavior prompted the agents to pull the vehicle over and question the driver.

After a short interview, the agents concluded Marquez was an undocumented alien.

Then they asked for permission to search the vehicle, to which Marquez reportedly consented.

The agents found bundles wrapped in large, black trash bags in the trunk of the vehicle that Marquez allegedly said was luggage.

The agents asked Marquez for permission to inspect the bags and Marquez reportedly consented.

The bags turned out to contain 20-pound bundles of marijuana and Marquez was taken into custody.

The bundles of marijuana had a combined weight of 208.72 pounds and were an estimated street value of $166,976.

He had $237 on his person and allegedly told the Border Patrol he was expecting to be paid $1,500 when he delivered the vehicle to Phoenix.

Marquez was initially taken to the Border Patrol sub-station in Willcox, but the U.S. District Attorney declined to prosecute the case, and Marquez was placed in the custody of the Southeastern Arizona Narcotics Task Force.

He was brought back to Graham County and booked in the Graham County Jail.

The Graham County Attorney's office has filed charges against Marquez.

He faces one count of transportation of marjuana for sale and one count of possession of marijuana for sale, both class two felonies. He also faces one count of possession of marijuana, a class four felony, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class six felony.

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Comments

11 comment(s)

lorraine wrote on Jan 24, 2010 12:15 PM:

" I AM TRYING TO FIND KARL AND SHARON WATSON THEY USED TO BE A COUNTRY BAND CALL ROJOE AND SAPPHIRE ITS BEEN ALONG TIME .DO I HAVE THE RIGHT ONES ?THANK YOU "

Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:

" I went to this camp in the summer of 05 when they were located in concho. I highly doubt that vallentine is telling the truth because when i went they was plenty of food. I remeber that they made us but on spf 50 sunscreen by the gallons. They provided us with gallons of water a day. I think that denton should have stayed in concho because it was a lot better. Big deal the recruits have no ac or water. what to expect bootcamp to be a vaction? And by the way the dirt isnt going to kill you "

H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The percentage of Americans who recreate in the wild outdoors of our National Forests is shrinking all the time. Today's America is predominately an urban/suburban America. Increasingly, individuals can not part with their IPods, Cell Phones, Laptop Computers and Navigational Aides (GPS). Roughing it outdoors is an experience that fewer and fewer individuals are getting "

Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Why not tell these people and organizations how you feel?

Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School

734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040

http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "

THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:

" I graduated with these guys and it's sad to say that I'm really not that surprised. They're meat heads and are a "few fries short of a happy meal". The authorities did nothing wrong, these people made a dumb choice and will have to deal with the consequences.

P.S. Doug did it. "

blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Whatever "

colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:

" i think doug grant is innocent an i think you should not charge him for murder "

saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:

" hello hello hello hello hello hello "

Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why doesn't this newspaper admit that the story reported by Pam Crandall, as related by Jesse MacBeth, in the above article, is a flat out lie??? MacBeth has since admitted that he did not go to Iraq and that he made up all of the stories repeated by Pam Crandall. Please tell the truth. The longer that the Courier stands by these lies the sillier it looks. "

Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:

" And the authorities wonder why it is that students have so little respect for authority. If I were this kid (or the kid's mother) I would never look at authority the same way again. "

Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM:

" i am writting to say that this was a harmless prank and just a little fun for these two innocent teenagers. they should have not gotten in that much trouble for just a harmless prank. being a friend to them you wouldnt see it in my view. they were just looking to have fun in safford because there is nothing else to do and jose hernandez should have not been sent to ADJC on his first crime he ever commited. "

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