FLORENCE — The man Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say led a Venezuelan gang effort to “take over” a rural Maricopa neighborhood pleaded not guilty this morning to multiple felony charges in Pinal County Superior Court.
Erazo-Zuniga, a Venezuelan national, was indicted by a Pinal County grand jury. DPS has said investigators received information in December that he was claiming the Hidden Valley community south of Maricopa as his territory and demanding money from residents. The agency has alleged a pattern of intimidation and violence, including a knife assault in 2024 and a gunpoint confrontation just last month.
DPS believes Erazo-Zuniga is assisting a criminal street gang and terrorism, though those claims are not outlined in the indictment documents.
On Jan. 9, DPS executed a search warrant at the Papago Road residence where Erazo-Zuniga lived and recovered a firearm detectives believe was connected to the reported December gunpoint incident.
“We encourage them to contact our tip line,” Graves said. DPS asked anyone with information related to the case to call 602-644-5805.
During today’s hearing, which lasted for just 15 minutes, Erazo-Zuniga, 27, stood with an interpreter, telling Judge Washburn his age in Spanish and that he understood the charges.
The defense team argued that cameras should be barred from the hearing, citing the national news being garnered from the story first reported by InMaricopa. They argued news reporting would jeopardize a future trial, infringe on privacy rights and potentially endanger safety.
While official sources confirm that federal charges are expected, Erazo-Zuniga is not charged federally as of this publication.
The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23 in front of Judge Jason Holmberg.
![Maricopa Police Chief Mark Goodman speaks to Maricopa City Council while presenting his department's annual report on April 7, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GOV-Crime-Stats-by-Monica-D-Spencer-300x200.jpg)
![A photo of a custom-made Glacier Springs Water system, layered over a photo of person washing a cup in a sink. [Glacier Springs Water, Cotton Bro Studio]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260611-glacier-springs-water-300x169.jpg)
![William Senne, arrested June 2, 2026. [Pinal County Sheriff's Office]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260610-william-senne-arrest-300x170.jpg)
![Maricopa Police Chief Mark Goodman speaks to Maricopa City Council while presenting his department's annual report on April 7, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GOV-Crime-Stats-by-Monica-D-Spencer-150x150.jpg)
17 Responses
Stop wasting time on illegals. Your wasting the courts time, our tax dollars. GET THEM OUT!
Well said, get them all the f#ck out of our country, stop wasting time and tax payer money on these criminals. That includes the Demoncrat voters as well…
Ya really should try to be less bigoted. Calling people names doesn’t help anyone. I really wish more people would see that this isn’t some sort of “us vs. them” thing. Politics isn’t just black & white like that, and this sort of rhetoric only serves to further divide people.
Due process exists for a reason. Everyone has a right to a fair trial. This is done in order to prevent false punishments for people who didn’t do anything.
Due process is for American citizens. The millions let in by the former brain dead president are not eligible for due process. They broke federal law by crossing the open border. Exactly what the aforementioned president and Demoncrats wanted. How else do you think they “win” elections? Theft and ILLEGAL voters.
If I remember correctly, you previously mentioned you were in high school at the present time. You appear to have been brainwashed thru the current scrool system. If you do your own research your eyes will begin to open to the current color revolution happening in the US. It will fail.
Due process is for everyone. Crossing the border is not a criminal offense unless the person has previously been deported. Please read a book.
… other than “Mein Kampf”…
If you are going to continue with your highly bigoted remarks (i.e. “demoncrats”, claiming Democrats use illegal voters, etc.), then I find it best that I don’t argue with you on this.
Arguing with a person who is deeply entrenched in bigotry is doomed to fall into complete nonsense that benefits neither side. I know this because I am highly active in the discussion of politics, and thus I have commonly been forced to deal with bigoted people that care not for proper arguing, but instead choose to make use of irrational and/or ignorant comments. You yourself have just made one such comment towards my education by claiming the school system has “brainwashed” me. This, however, is a completely baseless claim because you know nothing about my education. I would like to inform you that my views formed not from school, but rather from how I grew up, which was largely influenced by my OWN actions and choices.
You also appear to claim that I don’t do my own research, but that couldn’t be more wrong. I DO in fact do my own research. I wouldn’t know about the things that I do if I hadn’t researched them. For instance, I know that ICE killed Alex Pretti on January 24th in Minneapolis for no good reason whatsoever. There are many videos from many perspectives that all go to show that Mr. Pretti did nothing wrong to warrant being shot, especially when he was already pinned to the ground by ICE and was thus unable to do anything that could possibly warrant death. So please, do not make the utterly asinine claim that I don’t do my own research.
Additionally, please do not think of me as someone who isn’t well versed in politics simply because I’m still in high school. Such thinking is rather rude and belittling.
I can only hope that you read this and understand me. Perhaps it is a foolish hope, but I digress. That is all.
Man, I could watch this all day… TAB getting owned in a debate by a high school kid who is employing respect, reason and empathy… I have no notes, perfect! *chef’s kiss*
I’m so proud of you, Gunner. I don’t know about TAB but I read it and I thank you. I tried to play nice (and I admit, I played not-so-nice occasionally… once or twice or many many times 😉 …) with these people but it took me more than a year to figure out what you’re already realizing: it’s best not to argue with them. It’s a waste of time and I don’t have the bandwidth. As the saying goes: “you can roll around in the mud with a pig, but you both get covered in shit and the pig likes it.”
Hey, speaking of bigotry, remember when TAB called someone a faggot on here. Good times. Great guy.
Man, it’s nice to see you in the comments again, BKM. Thank you.
Here is a good start for your edification.
Better listen to him, Gunner.
After all, nobody has more experience edifying himself than TAB…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj7xI3xmIAk
Is this your idea of a good time, TAB?
Your poor, poor wife…
Wait, is that lady your wife?
Is she still with us?
If so, is she still with you?
If so… God bless that woman. Give her Trump’s fake Nobel Peace Prize…
This gang and others have infiltrated all of the US.I agree…they need to go back where they originated from.They are not here to better America or assimilate to our laws.
To be fair, Donald Trump isn’t here to better America either. The man wants to claim Greenland even though we have no use for it. The people don’t even support it. If he wanted to better the USA, then he wouldn’t put so much focus on trying to buy Greenland.
I think that people supporting illegal gangs and their members from a foreign land should move there and see what rights they have being a foreigner.Then report back from your jail cell.