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Alien Smuggler Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison
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Alien Smuggler Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

TUCSON, Ariz. – In a shocking turn of events, 63-year-old Clifford Valisto has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for his involvement in alien smuggling. Valisto, a resident of Tucson, pleaded guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on October 2, 2023.

According to eyewitnesses, Valisto was having difficulty controlling his vehicle, a Ford F-150, as he approached a Border Patrol checkpoint on July 19, 2023. Witnesses reported that Valisto appeared to be falling asleep at the wheel. Border Patrol agents found six undocumented non-citizens, including a 15-year-old unaccompanied minor, in the vehicle. All passengers were present in the United States illegally.

Valisto’s prior convictions include Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit (CR-18-01843-TUC-DCB) and Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien (CR-11-01345-TUC-DCB). These convictions demonstrate Valisto’s long history of involvement in alien smuggling.

The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, while the prosecution was handled by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.

Valisto’s sentence of 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, is a stark reminder of the consequences of alien smuggling. The sentence also includes an additional 12 months in prison, to be served concurrently, for violating conditions of his federal supervised release from a prior alien smuggling conviction.

This case serves as a warning to those involved in human trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, will continue to work tirelessly to bring these individuals to justice.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Case number: 23-CR-01213-TUC-JCH. Release number: 2023-204_Valisto.