On the evening of Tuesday, January 25, 2022, a state trooper pulled over a green 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser on a frigid desert road near Bisbee, a historic copper mining town close to the Mexico-U.S. border.

 

The vehicle had a broken light obscuring its license plate.

As the officer approached, he quickly discovered two American males and an injured female migrant from Mexico inside. He promptly called for U.S. Border Patrol.

About 30 minutes later, he also requested assistance from Bisbee Fire and Ambulance services.

Malakai Robert Samuelu presented the officer with a Washington state driver’s license, and his front-seat companion, Meamoni “Junior” Faualo, did the same. The two were close friends and new football players at Arizona Christian University, driving more than 200 miles from their small school in Glendale in a car borrowed from a teammate.

 

In the backseat was the woman, dressed in camo and unable to walk.

Less than an hour after the traffic stop, federal agents from Border Patrol arrested Samuelu and Faualo, suspecting them of human smuggling—a serious offense that could lead to up to 10 years in prison for each migrant involved, longer if there are injuries or fatalities.

 

The woman was taken to a hospital by ambulance for treatment and was later deported.

The vehicle was impounded.

 

However, by the next morning, both Samuelu and Faualo were released without facing any criminal charges, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona chose not to pursue the case.

 

This was not the first incident involving a football player from Arizona Christian University and human smuggling; current and former players told The Arizona Republic, part of the YSL News Network.

One alumni shared his experience from the previous semester, revealing that he had been recruited via Snapchat to transport migrants from border areas to the Phoenix metropolitan region.

He mentioned being paid $1,000 for each person transported.

He recounted making several trips before being apprehended, booked, and then released.

For years, transnational crime groups have targeted young Americans on social media, luring them with lucrative offers to drive migrants—essentially creating an underground ridesharing operation that forms a complicated network for human smuggling in the U.S.

 

However, this issue runs deeper and is more widespread than what court documents reflect.

An 18-month investigation by The Republic uncovered numerous claims of possible human smuggling involving former football players from Arizona Christian University, many of whom were arrested by Border Patrol but never charged. The investigation also highlighted a current player who supposedly assigned driving tasks to teammates and indicated that a former assistant coach and high school coach might have been involved in this operation.

The research revealed that many more individuals are arrested for human smuggling than are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

 

The federal agency usually does not prosecute 20% to 25% of the individuals arrested for human smuggling due to insufficient evidence or the fact that migrants cannot act as witnesses, based on information from government officials. They also cite reasons like the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of prior criminal records of suspects when dismissing cases like that of Samuelu and Faualo.

 

The findings highlight a frequently overlooked element of an overloaded criminal justice system and point to a significant deficiency in oversight, particularly by the coaching staff at Arizona Christian University football. It reveals how illegal immigration—a critical topic in this election cycle—is manipulated by U.S. residents, placing migrants, and particularly young people, at risk in Arizona.

 

As the new fall sports season begins, these revelations raise serious concerns regarding the screening and financial practices of high school and small college coaches, considering their immense influence. They suggest that parents and community leaders should alert teenagers about the dangers of transporting migrants. This situation serves as a cautionary tale stressing the importance of transparency and how silence can foster suspicion and reduce accountability.

The Republic submitted several federal and state public records requests as part of this investigation.

Border Patrol records were provided, but names were redacted. Samuelu and Faualo were identified in state police documents obtained from the Arizona Department of Public Safety only after legal threats were made by an attorney representing The Republic.

 

The Department of Public Safety initially claimed that no such documents were available and deleted body camera footage related to the incident.

Still, Border Patrol records confirmed that the traffic stop was initiated by a state trooper.

A different former ACU player mentioned that owning a vehicle allowed him to avoid major issues related to this situation.

 

After a previous arrest and unexpected release, a secret has emerged, vanishing into the transient world of Snapchat and edited government records.

This time, however, the car that was taken into custody belonged to the mother of a teammate.

She sought clarity.

“I learned that some students have been going to the border to pick up immigrants and make quick cash,” Carrie Olson shared with The Republic. “My son is on the football team, and the two individuals who got into trouble were also part of that team. After discussing it with the coach to understand what happened, we discovered this was indeed the case.”

 

Chapter 2: The Firestorm

Arizona Christian University is a private, evangelical liberal arts institution with about 1,100 students enrolled.

 

Established in 1960 as the Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College, it was rebranded in 2011 and expanded its campus significantly after moving from Phoenix to the former Thunderbird School of Global Management site in Glendale in 2018.

This transformation took place under Len Munsil, a steadfast right-wing constitutional attorney, former president of the Center for Arizona Policy, a powerful conservative advocacy organization, and the Republican nominee for the governorship in 2006.

On July 31, JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, held a rally at Arizona Christian, where he spoke before a large American flag and ACU banners, claiming that “more than 10 million illegal aliens have invaded our country” under the oversight of “border czar” Kamala Harris, which includes “violent criminals and terrorists.”

 

“The media deceives you about that,” he insisted, “but do not allow them to.”

Munsil has articulated that Christian values do not condone illegal immigration.

The ACU campus, originally a World War II U.S. Army Air Forces installation, is conveniently located near the Desert Diamond Arena, where Harris and Donald Trump recently hosted rallies, and the State Farm Stadium, which is home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and hosts major sporting events, from the annual Fiesta Bowl to Super Bowl 57 and the latest NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four.

The Arizona Christian Firestorm team competes under the radar.

Nevertheless, the football program has cultivated a winning tradition over the last ten years in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a lower competition level comparable to NCAA Division III, but offering athletic scholarships.

 

Samuelu and Faualo had only just joined ACU months prior to their arrests.

 

Prior to the pandemic, the two had played together in the backfield at Fife High School in Tacoma, Washington, where the powerful running backs, weighing over 230 pounds, garnered a reputation for their toughness.

Samuelu, known for his leadership, survived a violent incident with a box cutter as a freshman in high school when he was slashed in the neck and back, resulting in a bloody evacuation from the school by paramedics.

 

Faualo, older by a year and the son of a pastor, served as the team captain during his senior year in 2019. He spent the 2020 season as a preferred walk-on at the University of Washington before entering the transfer portal.

Football players at Arizona Christian are required to sign a statement of faith in Christ, attend chapel services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and adhere to the university’s policies, which include “holding fellow students accountable for their behavior.”

***

After their arrests, Arizona Christian football coach Jeff Bowen, honored with the 2021 NAIA Coach of Character Award, suspended Samuelu and Faualo, along with another player, reserve quarterback James “JJ” McElhenny from the nearby Tolleson area, as confirmed by current and former ACU players to The Republic. Three peers indicated that McElhenny played a role in assigning human smuggling tasks to his teammates.

 

Additionally, the university terminated the employment of assistant coach Kevin Hall Jr., who was both the running backs coach and offensive coordinator for the developmental team, a decision confirmed by the university just under two weeks following the arrests on February 6, 2022.

 

The school cited “entirely unrelated” issues concerning his work performance.

However, Bowen did not discuss human smuggling with the team and only briefly referred to Hall’s departure, according to players. This led to rumors of potential connections and cover-ups within the closely-knit community on campus.

 

Less than two months after the incident, in April 2022, Hall was appointed as the head football coach at River Valley High School in Mohave Valley, given the responsibility to mentor and lead young players in the state’s northwest region. He was subsequently demoted after just one season and left quietly, according to the athletics director of the school who spoke to The Republic.

Most recently, Hall was spotted coaching running backs at Saguaro High School, a renowned state powerhouse, during their season opener on August 29.

 

 

“According to what I’ve heard, he chose to leave ACU. It was his choice,” Saguaro coach Darius Kelly informed The Republic in late July, after Hall assisted with coaching local youth during the summer.

 

Kelly remarked that Hall “had a serious interview process” where they “met probably four or five times.” He added, “He’s a genuinely good person with strong values. I completely trust him moving forward. No doubt about it.”

Recently, Kelly updated The Republic saying that Hall “isn’t part of the coaching staff” due to a conflict with his work schedule, emphasizing that Hall “is not associated with Saguaro High School in any way.”

Multiple attempts to reach Hall for comments went unanswered.

 

***

Bowen directed inquiries to James Griffiths, the vice president of administration and general counsel at Arizona Christian University, who confirmed in a written statement to The Republic that three student-athletes faced suspension from the football team following an incident on January 25, 2022, when two players were “detained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.”

ACU did not disclose names of the individuals involved, did not mention the Border Patrol arrests, and denied any illegal activities by the coaching staff.

 

“In line with our Christian principles, our aim is always to ‘restore and redeem,’” Griffiths stated in an email to The Republic. “The two students detained by the DPS departed from the University at the end of the semester. The third student, who was involved but not directly, fulfilled all reinstatement requirements and has not faced any further disciplinary actions.”

Griffiths noted that Hall was “dismissed from ACU for reasons completely unrelated to this incident.”

“While some students may have wrongly assumed there was a link between his leaving and the situation due to the timing, the University’s investigation found absolutely no involvement on the part of the part-time coach in the incident concerning the students detained by DPS.”

Samuelu and Faualo had borrowed the PT Cruiser from teammate Trenton Olson. His mother told The Republic he was not suspended because he lent his car keys without hesitation and had no prior knowledge of the smuggling activities.

He withdrew from the university shortly after their arrests.

 

“Arizona Christian University treats allegations involving student conduct violations very seriously, especially those related to this matter,” Griffiths conveyed to The Republic, emphasizing that the university is unaware of any similar activities by students or staff.

 

“This isolated incident, which happened two years ago, had a limited scope and did not lead to any criminal charges. The three involved students admitted their roles, cooperated fully, and were swiftly disciplined.”

Chapter 3: ‘Just asking to go to jail’

According to former ACU quarterback Brady Martin, human smuggling was an open secret among certain players on the Arizona Christian football team, a practice he refused to be part of.

Some athletes were recruited face-to-face, while others through social media.

“I thought Arizona was a great place, but I quickly realized what kind of school it was,” Martin explained to The Republic, recalling a visit where a student asked if he wanted to pick up migrants at the border for $750 each.

“JJ was my guide. I chuckled at first, thinking he was joking,” Martin said.

“But then they clarified, ‘He’s serious.’”

Mcelhenny, another player who was suspended, denied the accusations in an interview, claiming he never sought to bribe Martin to smuggle migrants, “to my knowledge.” He chose not to elaborate on his involvement in the human smuggling cases of Samuelu and Faualo, other than the official statement from ACU he had received.

 

“That’s all you need to know about this issue,” Mcelhenny said. “I don’t feel comfortable discussing it any further since it has been addressed and is now nearly 2½ years in the past. Everyone has moved on.”

Three ACU football players shared with The Republic that Mcelhenny had assigned human smuggling tasks to teammates. Two of them preferred to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

Mcelhenny played for Arizona Christian during the past two seasons.

“I asked, ‘Bro, what are you talking about? Are you guys stupid?’” Martin recounted.

Mcelhenny allegedly explained the operation.

“Four or five migrants would get into the car,” Martin recalled being told, “then drive them back to a Walmart or AutoZone in Glendale. They’d get picked up there, and they’d receive cash on the spot.”

 

The players even had a designated vehicle for this purpose.

“Then they told me they had a broken license plate light on the vehicle,” Martin stated.

“I was like, ‘Bro, you guys are so dumb. You’re basically asking to get arrested.’”

Chapter 4: ‘People they want to prosecute’

Federal authorities informed The Republic that about 20% to 25% of individuals arrested by Border Patrol for human smuggling in Arizona are not prosecuted.

 

John R. Modlin, chief patrol agent of the Tucson Sector, mentioned that a supervisor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona might find issues with certain aspects of a traffic stop, or possibly decide that a more extensive investigation is necessary.

 

There is value in this individual, who noted, “and we can potentially amplify this issue further down the line.”

Gary M. Restaino, the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, identified two main reasons for the significant number of cases referred for prosecution being declined:

First, the Border Patrol agent might not have provided sufficient probable cause that a federal offense occurred before the detainment, or secondly, the migrants may be unable or unwilling to name the smugglers, which would make them important witnesses.

This problem was worsened by Title 42, an immigration policy introduced during the pandemic that facilitated rapid deportations instead of detentions due to health concerns. This policy ended in May 2023.

 

“We aim to move forward with as many of these adult alien smuggling cases as possible,” Restaino commented.

The Border Patrol does not publicly share data on the U.S. citizens they apprehend, but available records suggest a much larger gap between arrests for human smuggling and prosecutions than the federal officials’ estimates of 20% to 25%. The records further indicate a third primary reason for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona’s decision not to prosecute:

The overwhelming volume of cases.

 

Since early 2022, the federal agency has reported between 188 and 335 human smuggling prosecutions each quarter, far surpassing previous numbers from the pandemic and ranking among the highest in the country, per the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

This averages to about two to four prosecutions daily.

Border Patrol agents recorded 18 traffic stops that led to 26 human smuggling arrests in the Tucson Sector over just two days from January 24 to January 25, 2022, including an incident involving Samuelu and Faualo, based on redacted federal documents obtained by The Republic via a Freedom of Information Act request.

This narrow timeframe provides a limited sample but shows an average of 13 arrests each day.

Records indicate at least seven out of the 26 arrested—over a quarter—were not prosecuted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their lack of a criminal record, consistent with “Tucson Sector Guidelines.”

 

This group included Samuelu and Faualo in a PT Cruiser with an injured woman in the backseat; the driver of a maroon Ford Taurus from which two migrants fled as it was pursued by aircraft; the driver of a red Ford Mustang from which three migrants jumped during a chase; the driver of a black GMC Yukon carrying four migrants; and the driver and front-seat passenger of a gray Hyundai Elantra that had two migrants in the back.

Records from Border Patrol do not consistently indicate whether those arrested for human smuggling were prosecuted.

Of the 26 suspects, at least 13 were detained, with four certainly prosecuted and nine awaiting prosecution.

Eight individuals were released, including the seven previously mentioned and another pending prosecution.

For five individuals, their case outcomes remain unclear.

If all 14 suspects, who were either prosecuted or pending prosecution within this timeframe, were charged with human smuggling, it would average out to seven charges per day, which is more than three times the amount reported for the quarter by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

“They have their priorities,” Modlin explained to The Republic. “There’s a finite number of personnel available there. Court schedules are limited multiple federal agencies in this area are all competing for a chance in court. They each have individuals they want to prosecute.

“They may decide that a fentanyl trafficking case takes precedence over another case. Or any other matter.”

Chapter 5: Distinguishing human smuggling from human trafficking

Human smuggling and human trafficking are separate terms and legal offenses.

In the U.S., human smuggling, specifically referred to as “alien smuggling” (8 U.S.C. § 1324), encompasses the illegal entrance of a migrant into the U.S., their transport and shelter once within the country illegally, and any conspiracy to assist in these unlawful activities, whether knowingly or with reckless disregard for their illegal status.

In this situation, the migrants are considered willing participants.

Conversely, human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals for labor (18 U.S.C. § 1589) or sexual activities (18 U.S.C. § 1591) through methods of force, fraud, or coercion, fundamentally representing a form of modern slavery.

 

One constitutes an offense involving a border, while the other involves offenses against individuals; however, experts suggest they can intersect, as smuggled migrants may find themselves in a position of involuntary servitude as a means to repay debts.

“Despite the clear differences between human smuggling and human trafficking,” as stated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “it’s important to note that human smuggling can morph into trafficking if the smuggler utilizes force, fraud, or coercion to keep individuals against their will for exploitation purposes.”

***

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, there were 4,056 human smuggling cases across the country in the fiscal year 2022, which included 745 cases—roughly two cases daily—in the District of Arizona.

This figure placed Arizona third in the nation, following the Southern and Western Districts of Texas (1,357 and 1,090 respectively), which saw an average of three to four cases daily.

 

Most of those charged nationwide were Hispanic (81%) males (76%) who were U.S. citizens (74%) and tended to have little to no previous criminal background (61%).

The average age of those charged was 33.

Nearly 87% of these individuals received prison sentences averaging about 15 months.

A mere 0.5% had unlawfully detained a migrant against their will.

***

 

In a similar vein, only 0.5% of the total migrant encounters in the fiscal year 2022 involved individuals with prior criminal records.

 

According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were a total of 12,028 convictions involving migrants, both in the U.S. and internationally. Out of these, more than half (6,797) were related to illegal entry or re-entry.

Additionally, convictions included 2,239 for drug possession or trafficking, 365 for sex offenses, and 62 for homicide or manslaughter.

This information is based on approximately 2.4 million encounters with migrants.

“Sometimes people see reports about migrants crossing the border and think, ‘These are bad people,’” Restaino said. “However, all the evidence shows that most individuals coming to America do so seeking a better future for their families.”

 

Chapter 6: ‘They could hear her screaming’

Samuelu confirmed that he and Faualo were suspended from the Arizona Christian University football team, denying any involvement in human smuggling and attributing their situation to academic difficulties.

“We took responsibility and accountability as men,” Samuelu shared with The Republic in spring 2023, well before the Department of Public Safety (DPS) released public records verifying their arrests.

Previously, Samuelu had played football under a different name, Malakai Asoau-Koke, at the College of San Mateo in California. He graduated in May and has been working in private security, based on his social media updates.

Faualo suffered a season-ending injury at ACU and returned home to live with family, Samuelu explained to The Republic.

 

Neither player responded to follow-up requests for comments.

Faualo’s older sibling offered to pass on several messages but noted, “My brother isn’t much of a talker, so if something happened, he won’t say anything.”

Samuelu claimed that he and Faualo never used Olson’s car, didn’t drive to Bisbee, didn’t have an injured Mexican woman in the back seat, and never had handcuffs on their wrists. He also distanced himself from Mcelhenny’s suspension related to this case.

Former teammates reported that the players had shared an intense experience.

***

 

On the night Samuelu and Faualo were apprehended, they took Olson’s vehicle, “the one with the broken light,” as Martin, a former ACU quarterback, recounted.

“They believe Border Patrol let them go because someone was trapped in a canal or river, and they could hear her cries for help,” he stated.

 

Samuelu received GPS directions for a pickup, and a family of three migrants entered the vehicle. However, Faualo heard another woman yelling and pursued her cries, using his phone flashlight to find her.

“He said, ‘I heard her screaming, bro, and I just had to run in there and save her,’” Martin relayed.

“He saved her life,” Martin said. “That’s a true hero right there. God bless him.”

According to Martin, Faualo hurt his leg on some rocks but managed to pull the woman up to the street and into the car fueled by adrenaline.

The group didn’t get far, though, before they noticed police lights behind them.

“They said they got about three or four football fields down the road when their vehicle got pulled over,” Martin recounted.

***

The Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the stop, and records from U.S. Border Patrol confirmed various details of the incident.

 

A state trooper in Bisbee stopped a Chrysler PT Cruiser with Washington state plates due to a malfunctioning license plate light. The trooper then requested assistance from Border Patrol and called for an ambulance for the injured female passenger, according to reports from the federal agent at the scene.

 

While the names of the driver and passenger, both U.S. citizens, and the identity of the injured Mexican woman, who wore camouflage and was unable to walk due to a leg injury, were redacted due to federal privacy laws, Samuelu was noted as the driver, and Faualo was identified as the passenger in the DPS dispatch logs.

The PT Cruiser was registered to Carrie Olson.

Samuelu received a warning for the malfunctioning license plate light.

Initially, DPS claimed to have no records of this traffic stop and closed a public records request from The Republic earlier this year.

The request included several accurate details about the incident, such as the time, date, location of the stop, and the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate information, identifying Samuelu as the driver.

 

After The Republic’s attorney hinted at potential legal action based on the Border Patrol records, DPS finally released three documents related to the incident.

They also mistakenly provided a video from an unrelated traffic stop that took place on January 24, 2022, the day before Samuelu and Faualo were arrested.

When the error was pointed out and they were pressed to release the correct bodycam footage, a DPS attorney informed a Republic attorney that the video featuring the Arizona Christian University football players and the injured migrant woman from January 25, 2022, had been deleted over a year prior, “in accordance with the State Library’s General Retention Schedules, and it cannot be recovered.”

Chapter 7: Request for assistance

The dispatch records obtained by The Republic reveal that a state trooper initiated the traffic stop at 10:42 p.m. on State Route 80 near milepost 341 in Bisbee, a historic mining town located 5,500 feet above sea level in the Mule Mountains of southeastern Arizona, with its elevation surpassing its population.

 

 

Located 11 miles from the Mexico border and just minutes away from Banning Creek, a small waterway affiliated with the San Pedro River that flows along and beneath the road, as indicated by U.S. Geological Survey maps.

The air was crisp and icy that night, with temperatures dropping to the low 30s, based on National Weather Service data.

According to USGS information, the streambed was devoid of water.

Tombstone Canyon has a history of severe flooding, as noted in a report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, especially during the late summer monsoon season when heavy rains flood through Mule Gulch, traversing through downtown Bisbee via flumes, ditches, culverts, and box channels, eventually draining into the old Lavender Pit copper mine located south of the town.

 

Samuelu and Faualo were stopped near a canal that typically has “very little to no water flow” in late January, but could be slippery, as explained by Matthew Gurney, Bisbee’s Public Works director.

 

Four minutes later, at 10:46 p.m., the state trooper requested assistance from Border Patrol.

Just a minute later, at 10:47 p.m., the officer reported that the vehicle contained two U.S. citizens and one suspected migrant, according to dispatch logs.

This indicates that the document was modified at some point.

According to Martin’s account, it’s possible that the other three migrants fled into the harsh wilderness, falling under the category of ‘got-aways,’ which is the federal term for migrants who escape apprehension.

Six minutes later, at 10:53 p.m., DPS dispatch informed that Border Patrol would send a unit, although no estimated time of arrival was provided.

The state officer checked the name Malakai Robert Samuelu, who showed a driver’s license from Washington state.

 

He also checked the name Meamoni Faualo, another Washington resident.

Sixteen minutes later, at 11:09 p.m., the state officer called for Bisbee Fire to assist.

The Border Patrol agent who responded noted that he was asked for assistance regarding a DPS traffic stop at approximately 11:15 p.m. — over 30 minutes after the initial stop. He learned then that a state trooper had one possible migrant detained.

Upon arrival, the DPS officer informed the Border Patrol agent that he had called for emergency medical assistance for a woman who was unable to walk and that she was being assessed in an ambulance. There, the Border Patrol agent discovered a woman dressed in camouflage.

The woman confessed to being a Mexican citizen and lacked the necessary immigration documents for entry or residence in the U.S., as stated in federal documents.

At 11:41 p.m., the Border Patrol agent conducted a check on a Washington state driver’s license.

At 11:43 p.m., the agent requested a tow for a PT Cruiser bearing a Washington state plate.

 

At 11:45 p.m., two U.S. citizens were arrested by the Border Patrol agent for human smuggling and taken to a nearby Border Patrol facility for processing.

At 11:55 p.m., DPS reported that the migrant had been transported by ambulance to a hospital for further evaluation, and federal records show she was removed from the country under Title 42.

At 12:15 a.m., the tow truck arrived.

Meanwhile, a phone rang nearly 1,700 miles away.

Carrie Olson said she was awakened in the middle of the night in her home near Tacoma, Wash., by a call from a man with an Arizona area code, which she confirmed with her phone records, verifying the incident’s time and date. He stated her car was involved in an incident near Bisbee, impounded by Border Patrol and taken to Mac’s Towing in Sierra Vista.

“They mentioned they would keep it until I came to retrieve it,” Olson said. “I tried to explain, ‘I don’t even live in Arizona! That’s my son’s vehicle! He has no means to get there!’

 

“However, since it was registered in my name, I had to be the one to pick it up.”

Chapter 8: ‘Similar to Uber’

The Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector spans 262 miles along Arizona’s perilous, mountainous desert border with Mexico, from the New Mexico border to Yuma County. It stands as the largest sector in terms of personnel, employing around 3,600 agents and support staff.

Since the pandemic, migrant encounters at the Southwest border have surged, hitting an unprecedented high of nearly 2.5 million in the fiscal year 2023, running from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.

While fiscal year 2024 has seen a slight decline in encounters, it still surpassed 2 million for the third consecutive year, according to Border Patrol statistics.

This reduction can be attributed to four main factors:

The end of Title 42 led to fewer migrants being quickly expelled and encountered again; improved security funding and resources from Mexico due to U.S. diplomatic efforts; a directive from President Joe Biden that has significantly curtailed asylum claims since June; as well as potentially unconstitutional crackdowns by state authorities in Texas, resulting in a dramatic drop in migrant encounters there.

 

Arizona, however, experiences a different scenario, with the increase in encounters likely being a result of the razor wire and buoy barriers obstructing the Rio Grande. Smuggling routes have adjusted and expanded within the Mexican territory controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel, crossing into the desert and onto the state line.

The Tucson Sector reported over 452,000 migrant encounters this fiscal year, the most in the nation, marking an increase of over 40% compared to the same timeframe the previous year (323,000).

This situation represents just one aspect of the ongoing crisis.

Another troubling trend has surfaced both on the streets and online.

 

“Come and pick up these groups,” Modlin mentioned, estimating that drivers who are in high school or college make up around 20% of stops made.

 

“As we delved deeper, we realized they were being recruited through social media platforms.”

The Republic uncovered various posts on Snapchat, Instagram, and other platforms promoting lucrative opportunities for drivers in border towns like Bisbee, Sierra Vista, and Douglas. These posts frequently included piles of cash and images of baby chicks, using emojis for attention.

 

In Spanish, the terms “pollos” or “pollitos” are slang for migrants.

Human smugglers are often referred to as “polleros” or “coyotes.”

Modlin informed The Republic that Border Patrol agents have encountered children as young as 14 who have borrowed vehicles to transport migrants without their parents’ knowledge.

Some drivers flee from law enforcement, speeding and driving erratically, which puts both themselves and the public at greater risk.

Others attempt to conceal migrants in toolboxes or trunks, potentially leading to heatstroke or death.

Some individuals are armed.

“Many agents have teenage children, so it’s hard not to relate when they see another young person making such a poor choice,” Modlin noted.

Additional aggravating factors can lead to further criminal charges and increase the chances of prosecution.

 

“For many of these kids, their immediate thought is, ‘Hey, this is just like Uber. It’s a rideshare opportunity. I’m just picking someone up,’” Modlin explained.

“The problem is, they have no idea who is getting into their vehicle. They know nothing about the person’s criminal background.”

He provided a typical scenario of a traffic stop involving human smuggling.

“Typically, the agent approaches the vehicle, assuming the situation stays calm. The driver pulls over, no one runs away from the car,” Modlin added. “The agent interviews everyone inside, discovers they are in the country illegally, and arrests them. The driver is also taken into custody. We then tow the vehicle and refer the case to the U.S. Attorney for further action.”

Border Patrol does not have the sole authority to release individuals arrested for human smuggling, Modlin stated.

 

Those who are prosecuted are handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service for an initial hearing.

The others are processed and released, with their details stored in a law enforcement database.

Chapter 9: ‘Classic Prosecutorial Discretion’

Restaino, the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona since November 2021, shared with The Republic that there was a decline in prosecutions for human smuggling during the pandemic as it became challenging to detain key witnesses — the migrants — and secure court time.

The decision to not prosecute and release the Arizona Christian football players at night originated from his office.

“We strive for consistency in our decisions,” Restaino remarked. “Each day, one of the supervisors reviews all arrest reports to determine which cases we will pursue.”

Human smuggling is a serious crime, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison for each migrant involved — potentially longer if there are injuries or fatalities — although certain charges can be downgraded to misdemeanors depending on the circumstances.

 

“This falls under classic prosecutorial discretion,” Restaino stated.

 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has the authority to prosecute a suspect for human smuggling for up to five years, but it generally does not revisit cases that were initially not pursued.

“The ethical approach is simple: we move forward only if we have a solid case,” Restaino explained. “If circumstances hinder our ability to prove the case, whether it’s due to the stop itself or issues with key witnesses, we won’t proceed. This is why some cases end up being declined.”

He did not observe any trends among those who were not prosecuted and rejected the notion of favoritism towards athletes.

Restaino mentioned that his office usually isn’t aware if a person is an athlete when Border Patrol presents a potential human smuggling case. He referred to five recent cases where he found out an athlete was involved, but this knowledge came only after discussions with defense lawyers.

 

“Four were in college and one was in high school, ranging from baseball to football to track and field,” Restaino added.

Federal court records are not easily searchable by specific offenses.

The identities of the athletes remain anonymous.

Last spring, the Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats — a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies — produced a nearly two-and-a-half-minute video for a public awareness campaign featuring a young athlete’s apology after being arrested for human smuggling.

In the video, the unidentified girl, wearing a gray Nirvana T-shirt and sporting braces and braids, shares how she was recruited in person by a friend, but was later apprehended by Border Patrol, handcuffed, and jailed.

“The feeling of losing your freedom was just — it was heartbreaking,” she stated in the video. “All I could think about was how much I wanted to call my mom and go home. I regret ever doing this.”

 

Her sentencing, along with her identity, remains undisclosed.

Restaino stated that juveniles are often not prosecuted in the federal system because “we must take into account the potential for rehabilitation.”

“We focus on deterrence just as much as we do on enforcement.”

At least 37 minors have faced prosecution for smuggling immigrants in Arizona since Restaino took office — 13 in 2022, 17 in 2023, and seven in the first half of this year, based on figures provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Chapter 10: The Gas Station

Samuelu and Faualo weren’t the initial Arizona Christian University (ACU) football players detained by Border Patrol for human smuggling who were later released without charges.

A different former ACU player shared his past experience from the previous semester during football season in fall 2021, though he requested that his name not be revealed in this article.

 

Since state police weren’t involved in his traffic stop, and he wasn’t charged, his name is not found in public law enforcement or court documents.

“They kept me in a small cell,” the ex-ACU player recalled, describing the chilly walls of what was likely the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station in Bisbee. “I was in there for a couple of hours while they ran a background check, and then they brought me in to talk.”

“I shared whatever information I had. Honestly, I didn’t know much.”

 

The ex-ACU player stated he was approached via Snapchat to transport migrants from Sierra Vista to Phoenix and acted independently, freeing the ACU coaches and his teammates from any prior knowledge of his actions.

He explained that an individual named “X3” provided direction, GPS coordinates, and cash.

“But I never saw his face, nothing like that,” the ex-ACU player explained. “We’d park our cars next to each other, they’d get out of my car and into his, and then we’d speed off. It was $1,000 per person. Typically, I drove four people, so I earned $4,000 each time. I did it three times, and on the fourth time, that’s when I got caught.”

 

He was taken aback when the Border Patrol let him go and shared his conversation with the federal agents.

“They looked at my clear record and said, ‘You’re a good kid. You play college football. You shouldn’t be doing this stuff.’

“I replied, ‘Yeah, I know.’”

“It’s quick cash, but it can ruin your entire career, your whole life,” he recalled the agent warning him.

“He said, ‘This is the final warning, man. I’m letting you go. You’ll need to retrieve your car from the tow yard.’”

 

“I then asked him how I was supposed to get back to Glendale.”

“He replied, ‘That’s your problem.’”

“They dropped me off at a gas station in Sierra Vista, and I had to figure out my way home.”

This ex-ACU player did not specify the date of his arrest, making it difficult to verify his account through public records due to Border Patrol’s stringent privacy rules.

 

However, The Republic examined the redacted records from Border Patrol stops that led to human smuggling arrests in the Tucson Sector during January 24 and 25, 2022, a 48-hour period that included Samuelu’s and Faualo’s arrests.

In at least one case, the individual was released at a Circle K gas station, supporting the former player’s earlier statement.

The ex-ACU player shared that he was released with another young man who was also arrested for human smuggling, although his companion remained in custody.

He charged his phone at the gas station using a borrowed charger and spent the night by a fire with a homeless person.

 

He attempted to keep the incident hidden from everyone except one teammate, who helped him return to campus. By the next semester, he transferred to another school, shortly after Samuelu and Faualo were discovered with an injured woman in a car owned by a teammate’s mother.

“That’s where they made their mistake,” the former ACU player remarked. “If they had used their own vehicle, no one would have been caught.”

Chapter 11: ‘As if Nothing Happened’

After being released by Border Patrol “in the middle of the desert,” Samuelu and Faualo contacted another ACU football player, who then informed Martin about their arrests before making the 450-mile round trip to pick them up.

Martin later confronted Mcelhenny via text about this and claimed that Mcelhenny responded by visiting his dorm with four teammates wearing ski masks in an attempt to intimidate him into remaining silent.

 

Martin stated he kept his composure, sat in a chair, and told the group he would stay quiet.

The situation did not escalate to violence.

“The next day, I went out and played 7-on-7,” recalled Martin. “They tried to act like nothing had happened.”

Mcelhenny confirmed he visited Martin’s dorm to discuss an important text message received on the night of Samuelu and Faualo’s arrests — but he insisted he went alone and that Arizona Christian reviewed security camera footage during its internal investigation to support his less intense version of events.

However, ACU’s attorney, Griffiths, contradicted this claim.

“Campus Safety was not made aware of any incident in the dorm at the time you mention,” Griffiths told The Republic, “and only learned about the allegations when you asked months later, so they had no reason to check security footage back then.

“Any security footage would have been deleted in February 2022 — it gets overwritten after 30 days.”

 

Martin indicated that he did not report the incident to coaches, campus security, or the police since teammates mentioned that the running backs coach might be involved, leaving him unsure of whom to trust.

***

Martin, a former Division I prospect with a father who played at Air Force, was a quarterback at Division III Endicott College in Massachusetts just months before, when he was recruited by Arizona Christian, seeking a new beginning in the desert.

He started his studies in January 2022.

However, following the events involving Samuelu and Faualo.

 

Several individuals were taken into custody for human smuggling but were later released without facing any criminal charges, leading to their departure from the university. This occurred after Mcelhenny reportedly made threats, was suspended from spring practice, and then reinstated. Following Hall’s dismissal, he quickly obtained a position as the head coach at a high school. Martin expressed that his trust in the ACU coaching staff declined sharply when he discovered he was ineligible to play during his initial season.

He mentioned that certain academic credits from his previous institution did not carry over.

“I shouldn’t have enrolled at that school,” Martin admitted.

He found it difficult to make sense of the situation, trying to understand the conflicting circumstances.

“How is it possible that a teammate facing serious allegations could still participate in games while I was benched for an issue with my paperwork that the coaches should have recognized before I even joined?” Martin pondered.

 

***

Some members of the Arizona Christian football program, according to Martin, have links to law enforcement and the upper echelons of university leadership. This includes Bowen, who has an impressive 40-year coaching career in high school and college athletics within Arizona.

He became a part of the ACU football team as the running game coordinator in 2014 and continues to play a significant role in that area, as noted by players.

Since 2020, Brett Nelson has held the positions of running game coordinator and offensive line coach. He also previously served as the assistant athletic director of compliance and is related by marriage to President Munsil.

Corey Quinn, who oversees campus security at ACU, has a background as a homicide detective and is the father of Aidan Quinn, the program’s all-time rushing leader.

 

Corey Quinn chose not to provide a comment to The Republic.

Aidan Quinn completed his education at ACU in May 2023 and graduated from the Phoenix Police Academy in November 2023.

He informed The Republic that he had no knowledge of any human smuggling incidents involving his former teammates and stated, “I have no connection with Kevin Hall.”

He did not elaborate further.

When ACU’s attorney was asked for clarification regarding Hall’s firing—stating it was not connected to the human smuggling arrests—he stated in an email to The Republic:

“I can confirm that the employee was terminated due to job performance issues and not related to the incidents mentioned in your email,” Griffiths stated. “Our investigation indicated that the linkage to the illegal acts was from a former high school peer of one of the students involved. The part-time coach had no involvement.”

***

Mcelhenny was a quarterback at Tolleson High School for three years, but his senior season was canceled due to the pandemic. He later transferred to Ironwood High School, where he played as both a safety and a receiver, not far from Arizona Christian.

 

He transitioned from quarterback to defensive back following his suspension from the ACU football team in the spring of 2022 and is now listed as a wide receiver on the 2024 roster.

“The experience was quite humbling, but it also provided a moment for reflection and personal growth,” Mcelhenny shared regarding his suspension. “It was an opportunity to delve into my faith, spend time with family, and focus on self-improvement. Missing my teammates and the camaraderie was tough, but those friendships remain strong.”

Mcelhenny mentioned that he lost contact with Samuelu and Faualo after their arrests, as well as with Martin, who returned to Massachusetts after the semester and reached out to The Republic.

“Brady’s departure was due to his attitude and behavior,” said Mcelhenny. “And that was evident to the coaches.”

 

Mcelhenny alleged that Martin threatened to create an anonymous social media account to spread false information about him and provided screenshots of a text conversation to The Republic for proof.

In a text sent on February 4, 2022, shortly after the arrests, Mcelhenny wrote to Martin:

“Hey, I don’t want any conflict between us, I’m sorry for approaching you the way I did. I totally overreacted. I hope we can repair our relationship,” followed by a fingers crossed emoji.

Martin replied with a series of threats and derogatory remarks, stating, “when I make a Twitter burner account and reveal everything you did, that’ll be even more entertaining.”

 

The screenshots did not show any evidence of Martin making false claims.

Mcelhenny expressed his ambition to join the police academy after completing college.

“That is my goal,” he affirmed, “to serve as a police officer.”

Chapter 12: ‘A players’ coach’

In mid-March 2022, around six weeks after his termination from Arizona Christian, Hall started a customer service position with Enterprise Rent-A-Car at Sky Harbor Airport and applied for the role of head football coach and physical education teacher at River Valley High School, as detailed in documents he submitted to the Colorado River Union High School District #2, which The Republic obtained through a public records request.

In his application, he stated that he wanted to leave ACU to lead his own high school team.

He claimed to be certified by the Board of Education to teach in Arizona, providing an expiration date for this certificate but failed to submit the verification documents.

He contended he had never been dismissed or forced to resign from any previous position within a school district.

He was subsequently hired.

Hall’s resume indicates he hails from Milton, Florida, just outside Pensacola.

He played as a running back in two Division II schools: the University of North Alabama and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.

 

He has held assistant coaching positions at various high schools across Florida, Nevada, and Arizona.

He included several references in his application.

The athletics director and football coach at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, where he briefly served as the wide receivers coach in 2019 before moving to Arizona Christian, as well as the coach at Lutheran Christian in Las Vegas, where he worked for three years prior, all provided positive recommendations.

 

It seems that no one from River Valley contacted anyone from Arizona Christian regarding Hall.

Hall was officially hired on March 31, 2022, the same day a district employee verified his references at Mountain Pointe, as records indicate.

He was offered an annual salary of $40,825 as a full-time physical education teacher, along with an additional $3,500 for three months as the head football coach.

His start date was set for July 15, 2022.

“I’m a players’ coach,” Hall declared to the Mohave Valley Daily News. “I don’t tell my players to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. I lead by example.”

 

In August 2022, after just a month of Hall’s leadership, the Dust Devils were penalized by the Arizona Interscholastic Association for violating recruitment rules and heat safety protocols. They were accused of trying to recruit players from nearby California and Nevada, and hastily increasing preseason practices in the extreme heat.

The expectations were high for River Valley, as they had their senior quarterback returning from a successful 10-2 season that nearly saw them advance to the state quarterfinals. However, the Dust Devils ended up with a 6-3 record, suffering significant defeats to local rivals Kingman (44-0) and Mohave (43-0), ultimately taking second place in the 3A West Region.

After the season concluded, Hall was demoted and resigned unexpectedly, leaving his keys on his desk. The school’s principal and athletics director, Dorn Wilcox, mentioned to The Republic that the team “did not develop under his guidance.”

Chapter 13: A Difficult Discussion

The Arizona Christian coaching staff found Trenton Olson to be without fault. According to his mother, he never questioned Samuelu and Faualo about why they needed to borrow his car, nor did he know their intention to smuggle migrants.

 

To retrieve the impounded PT Cruiser, Trenton’s grandparents traveled from Southern California to Sierra Vista with a notarized letter.

“When I got it back, it was just a mess,” Carrie Olson recounted. “There were clothes, coats, and various things left inside. It was clear that whoever had been in there had been through something, as they left their jackets, and the interior was muddy with grass, leaves, and other debris. It was all dirty, and I had to have it cleaned as soon as we got it back.”

According to Carrie Olson, she had discussions with Bowen, the Arizona Christian head coach, and Shawn Cooper, the former recruiting coordinator and receivers coach. Both appeared unaware of any human smuggling activities involving ACU football players and sought her assistance to collect information.

“My son started asking other players and students, and they mentioned that people were going down there to do this and making quick cash,” Carrie Olson explained. “If it’s something simple and can be done in a night, I can understand why they would do it. But it’s dangerous.”

 

Initially, Trenton Olson didn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation.

“My son was like, ‘Oh, you just pick people up,’” she said.

“I responded, ‘You’re letting strangers into your car. Where are they coming from? How are they carrying such a large amount of money to come over? You wouldn’t have a clue what they have with them in your vehicle.’”

“Then he started to realize, ‘Yeah, that sort of makes sense.’”

 

Trenton Olson decided to leave Arizona Christian, return home, and join the football team at Washington State University.

His expenses for the impound fee of several hundred dollars were initially promised to be reimbursed by Samuelu and Faualo, but they stopped responding to his messages.

“He loaned the car,” said Carrie Olson, “so I told him he needed to pay for it. It’s your responsibility.”

She sold the PT Cruiser and got a new car.

They tried to put the situation behind them.

However, Trenton did not get any playing time at Washington State, missed his friends, and returned to Arizona Christian the following fall.

 

Before he drove back to Glendale, they had another serious conversation.

“I told him, ‘We’re not lending out cars anymore, and we’re not going down there to pick up any quick cash.’”

“He replied, ‘Oh, no. Absolutely not.’”

“He spoke with some of his teammates who remained there, and they mentioned they didn’t think such activities were still occurring.”

Unbeknownst to Carrie Olson, there had been another Arizona Christian football player suspended in relation to the impounding of her PT Cruiser.

She also hadn’t heard about the former player who claimed he was approached to use her car for smuggling migrants or the one who had faced Border Patrol after his fourth attempt to smuggle migrants during football season.

She didn’t believe there was any wrongdoing on the part of the ACU coaching staff.

“I find it hard to believe they could be hiding anything,” she expressed. “It’s a Christian institution.”

Her son graduated with a degree in communications from Arizona Christian in May and returned as a graduate student to play football this season.

“I genuinely think that if the coaches had been more aware,” she said, “they definitely would have taken action.”