An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Dangerous Felon

Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Dangerous Felon

Release Date
Thu, 08/04/2011

Tucson, Ariz. - A 32-year-old illegal immigrant previously convicted of negligent homicide was apprehended on August 2 by Douglas Station Border Patrol agents.

Agents arrested Vanessa Francisca Rico-Verdugo, a Mexican national, for illegally entering the United States east of the Douglas port of entry. During processing at the Douglas Station, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System revealed Rico-Verdugo was convicted in September 2001 for Negligent Homicide in Maricopa County. She was sentenced to nine months in prison and four years of probation.

IAFIS also revealed Rico-Verdugo received a formal order of removal from an immigration judge on November 27, 2001, and was deported through the Nogales port of entry. Rico-Verdugo is being criminally prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for illegal re-entry of a convicted felon. Following the judicial process, Rico-Verdugo will be removed from the United States.

All illegal immigrants apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using IAFIS. This vital tool accesses criminal records throughout the United States, thereby assisting agents to quickly identify dangerous criminals and wanted persons.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure and safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona communities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1 (877) 872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021