Phoenix Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Alien Smuggling and Firearm Offense

TUCSON, Ariz. – John Edward Crenshaw, 40, of Phoenix, Arizona was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 40 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On January 19, 2023, Crenshaw pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

On March 3, 2022, Crenshaw was encountered at a United States Border Patrol checkpoint, which he approached while erratically driving a Ford Fusion. After he stopped, Border Patrol agents discovered that he was transporting five passengers, who were determined to be undocumented noncitizens that Crenshaw was smuggling further into the country. Four of the passengers were in the rear of the vehicle, which did not have seats or seat belts. Crenshaw was in possession of a knife and a loaded .380-caliber pistol. He was later determined to be a convicted felon who could not legally possess a firearm.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           22-CR-00595-TUC-RM (JR)
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-102_Crenshaw

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