Guilty Plea in Arizona: Owner of Taco Restaurants Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charge and Employing Unauthorized Aliens

Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty on August 20 to one count of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens. Audeves, the owner and operator of El Taqueria El Taco Loko LLC, admitted to hiring and employing at least 12 unauthorized aliens, who were either not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or not authorized to be employed in the United States. The plea also included Audeves' admission to possessing three firearms and ammunition in July 2025, prohibited because of his immigration status. Audeves' conviction carries a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the firearms charge, and six months of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $36,000 ($3,000 per unauthorized alien) for knowingly employing unauthorized aliens.

Key Takeaways:

• Blademir Angulo Audeves pleaded guilty to one count of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens.
• Audeves, a Mexican citizen without legal authority to be in the United States, admitted to knowingly hiring and employing at least 12 unauthorized aliens.
• The plea included Audeves' admission to possessing three firearms and ammunition in July 2025, prohibited because of his immigration status.
• The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.
• The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, and the prosecution was handled by the United States Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
• Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2025, before United States District Judge Humetewa.

Statistics:

• Audeves faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the firearms charge.
• The maximum penalty for knowingly employing unauthorized aliens is six months of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $3,000 per unauthorized alien, with at least 12 unauthorized aliens employed, totaling $36,000.
• The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative.

Sources:

• U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona: "Owner of Taco Restaurants Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charge and Employing Unauthorized Aliens"
• "News Release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, August 22, 2025"
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/owner-taco-restaurants-pleads-guilty-firearms-charge-and-employing-unauthorized-aliens