Phoenix Smuggler Drags Border Agent, Gets 27 Months

TUCSON, Ariz. – A brazen act of human smuggling escalated into a violent assault on a federal agent, landing 25-year-old Shatasia Emoney Sanders Taylor of Phoenix a 27-month federal prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez handed down the punishment last week, followed by a 36-month term of supervised release. Taylor pleaded guilty to both Alien Smuggling and Assault of a Federal Officer on September 6, 2023.

The incident unfolded on February 7, 2023, near Bisbee, Arizona. U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted Taylor picking up what they suspected were undocumented noncitizens in a remote desert area – a common staging ground for smugglers pushing people north. As an agent approached Taylor’s vehicle, attempting to initiate contact while it was stopped, the situation turned instantly dangerous.

According to court documents, when the agent reached through the passenger window, Taylor slammed on the accelerator. The agent was dragged alongside the vehicle for several hundred feet, a terrifying ordeal that could have easily resulted in fatal injuries. Taylor only brought the car to a stop after a desperate struggle and a considerable distance. The callous disregard for the agent’s life was a key factor in the sentencing.

Inside the vehicle, agents found three undocumented noncitizens crammed into the backseat, confirming Taylor’s involvement in an illegal alien smuggling operation. She was attempting to transport them further into the United States, profiting off vulnerable individuals and flouting federal law. The discovery solidified the charges against her, linking the assault directly to the commission of a separate felony.

The investigation was spearheaded by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, with the prosecution skillfully handled by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Border Patrol agents and the consequences for those who attempt to exploit our immigration system and endanger law enforcement.

Case Number: CR-23-1295-TUC-RM. Release Number: 2024-090_Taylor. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on X @USAO_AZ for the latest updates.