Scottsdale School Employee Resigns After Smuggling Arrest

The employee allegedly tried to transport undocumented individuals for $12,000 payment.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A Scottsdale Unified School District employee has resigned after admitting to investigators that he attempted to get paid $12,000 to transport people who were in the U.S. illegally. The alleged deal reportedly started on Snapchat and moved to WhatsApp. The school board was left to decide whether to accept the employee's resignation or push for termination.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges school districts face in vetting employees and maintaining the public's trust when employees are accused of criminal activity, even if unrelated to their school duties. It also raises broader questions about immigration enforcement and the role of private citizens in facilitating illegal border crossings.

The details

According to investigators, the Scottsdale Unified School District employee admitted to trying to get paid $12,000 to transport undocumented individuals. The alleged deal reportedly started on the social media app Snapchat and then moved to the messaging app WhatsApp. The school board had to decide whether to accept the employee's resignation or pursue termination.

  • The employee resigned on February 12, 2026.

The players

Scottsdale Unified School District

The public school district serving the city of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Steven Sarabia

A reporter who covered the story for azfamily.com.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult decisions school districts must make when employees are accused of criminal activity, even if unrelated to their school duties. It also raises broader questions about the role of private citizens in facilitating illegal immigration and the challenges districts face in maintaining public trust.