An Oklahoma big rig operator is facing significant charges after he was caught with more than 40 illegal aliens hiding inside his tractor and trailer in Texas last weekend, authorities say.
The bust unfolded on May 16 in Sarita, a small town in the Rio Grande Valley.
Juan Nasario-Reyes, 43, approached a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in an 18-wheeler that he claimed was empty, according to a criminal complaint.
Agents noted Nasario-Reyes displayed ‘nervous behavior’ before a K-9 alerted to his sleeper cab and trailer.
During a secondary inspection, agents reportedly encountered four illegal aliens inside the cab and another 38 in the trailer.
“A subsequent search allegedly revealed water bottles, trash, a cushion and a bucket for urination inside the trailer. According to the complaint, the temperature inside the trailer was approximately 92.5 degrees,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas explained in a press release.
Agents also found 16 grams of meth, a glass pipe, and a glass funnel inside a headphone box in the cab area, the complaint alleges.
Nasario-Reyes was arrested and charged with numerous human smuggling offenses as well as possession with intent to distribute meth.
The illegal aliens were identified as citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Cuba, and Brazil.
Most of the aliens are “expected to be immediately removed from the country,” while 13 others are facing charges for illegal entry or reentry.
Interestingly, Nasario-Reyes faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the human smuggling charges, but up to 40 years in prison for the drug charges.
Nasario-Reyes was scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday morning.
One Response
Someone needs to tell them that minorities are extremely discriminated against in the US and that its the worst country on planet Earth.
According to liberals.