Border Patrol’s Tactical Team Strikes: Major Human-Smuggling Bust in Bisbee

Two U.S. citizens, Thomas Cain Alvarez and Gregory Jerold Rhinehart, have been charged with federal offenses following a Border Patrol raid in Bisbee, Arizona. The operation, executed on August 20, led to the arrests of ten individuals, including seven undocumented migrants, and is rooted in a months-long investigation into smuggling activities linked to the residence located on American Avenue.

The investigation commenced in March when agents from the Tucson Sector began monitoring the property. Surveillance revealed Alvarez’s suspicious activities, including his arrival in a green Toyota Land Cruiser and subsequent interactions with suspected undocumented individuals. Agent Raymond Yocupicio documented numerous instances where Alvarez would leave the house only to return shortly after, allegedly with more individuals lacking legal status.

On the day of the raid, Border Patrol agents obtained a search warrant and converged on the location. They communicated orders for anyone inside to exit, using both English and Spanish. Three individuals emerged, including Alvarez, Rhinehart, and Alvarez’s sister, Sarah Maley. Agents conducted a thorough search and discovered evidence suggesting recent movement towards an adjacent abandoned property, where seven more undocumented individuals were found.

During questioning, Alvarez voluntarily disclosed information about his involvement in smuggling operations, claiming to have been recruited by a Cuban national named Jesus Enrique Calvo-Martinez, also known as “Cubano.” Calvo-Martinez was previously apprehended in October 2023 for similar offenses. Following his guilty plea in December, he received a four-year probation sentence.

Cochise County has experienced a surge in smuggling incidents in recent years. While many migrants seek asylum by presenting themselves to Border Patrol agents, a significant number resort to smugglers. Reports indicate a growing trend where cartel-led operations are recruiting drivers through social media platforms to transport undocumented migrants within Arizona.

During a press conference on August 22, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels highlighted the recent spike in border-related arrests, emphasizing that over the past 31 months, deputies have apprehended 3,762 individuals at substantial costs to local resources.

Apprehensions in the Tucson Sector, which spans from Yuma County to the New Mexico border, saw an alarming increase with over 80,000 arrests in December alone. Although these numbers have declined recently, apprehensions remain significantly higher than in previous years.

An investigation into Alvarez’s activities revealed video evidence of him picking up individuals in his vehicle. Interviews with some of the detained individuals outlined the financial burdens they faced to enter the U.S., including payments to smugglers that reached upwards of $10,000.

Alvarez and Rhinehart now face the possibility of a decade in prison for their alleged roles in violating federal immigration laws, highlighting the ongoing challenges of managing illegal migration and border security in the region.