County Attorney Candidate Tamika Wooten’s Troubling Track Record: Plea Deals for Human Smugglers

By Matthew Holloway |

The Maricopa County Attorney race is heating up as incumbent Republican Rachel Mitchell and Democratic challenger Tamika Wooten face increasing scrutiny over their respective legal histories. Investigations into Wooten’s past as a private attorney, under her former name Tamika Cheatham, reveal a troubling pattern of defending individuals charged with human smuggling offenses.

Wooten has been linked to the defense of at least a dozen clients in human trafficking cases. Notably, of those twelve, eleven received suspended sentences and ten were placed on unsupervised probation. The charges ranged widely, encompassing both smuggling and conspiracy to commit smuggling charges, all of which Wooten appears to have successfully mitigated.

One alarming case involved Sergio Gonzalez-Sanchez, who was charged with smuggling a minor—a class 2 felony for transporting someone under 18 without a family member present. Similarly, Fernando Gomez-Hernandez faced class 4 felony charges for smuggling, which he was accused of doing for profit.

In court documents from the 2009 arrest of Gomez-Hernandez, police described the scene vividly. Officers observed individuals in the back of a van who appeared frightened and were attempting to hide. The smuggler received a plea deal reducing the charge to a class 5 felony, resulting in a six-month jail sentence.

Another defendant, Carlos Figueroa Ramirez, reportedly smuggled individuals in a truck, creating a stark contrast between his clean attire and the dirt-covered passengers. Following a plea arranged by Wooten, Ramirez was sentenced to six months in jail, having served a substantial portion already.

Additional defendants linked to Wooten’s cases include Guillermo Vazquez-Espinoza, who conspired with a suspected coyote, and several others engaged in similar smuggling activities. These instances indicate a greater trend where defense strategies aimed to secure leniency for those involved in serious offenses.

Wooten’s legal history raises significant concerns about her approach to law enforcement and the prosecution of human smuggling. In a recent meeting attended by AZ Free News researchers, she openly opposed the “Secure the Border Act,” HCR 2060, expressing her intention to combat what she termed racial profiling in law enforcement practices. Her public statements reveal a clear agenda that may impact how human smuggling cases are prosecuted in Maricopa County, the largest in Arizona.

As the election approaches, Wooten’s record and her stance on immigration policies are likely to influence voters’ perceptions. The implications of her potential tenure as County Attorney could reverberate throughout the state, especially concerning efforts to manage illegal immigration.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.