(Texas Scorecard) – A federal criminal complaint alleges an illegal alien from Honduras tried to smuggle dozens of other illegal aliens in a refrigerated produce trailer in South Texas.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, authorities discovered 51 illegal aliens packed into a refrigerated trailer that was supposed to be hauling produce at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Freer.
According to court filings, Greibein Alexis Pinot-Duartez was taken into custody at the scene.
Agents said Pinot-Duarte appeared nervous, repeatedly volunteered that he was hauling “bananas,” and refused consent to break the trailer seal before a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to concealed humans at the rear of the trailer.
At secondary inspection, agents found the trailer’s temperature was 55 degrees and stacked with heavy produce boxes concealing a false plywood compartment packed so tightly with illegal aliens that only one person could exit at a time.
Many inside allegedly had no jackets, were visibly shivering, complained of numb or cramped limbs, and told agents they could not have escaped on their own due to the cramped space and 30–40 pound boxes blocking the only exit.
According to the affidavit, all 51 individuals admitted to being in the country illegally and were taken to the Hebbronville Border Patrol Station for processing, while Pinot-Duarte was arrested and charged for transporting illegal aliens in reckless disregard of their unlawful status.
Investigators said the bill of lading and load manifest were fictitious, the truck took an indirect route from the Rio Grande Valley to avoid other checkpoints, and Pinot-Duarte admitted he had been paid to drive the same tractor-trailer on at least one previous trip.
Prosecutors charged the driver under federal alien-smuggling statutes, which carry steep penalties when large numbers of people are involved or the conduct creates a serious risk of injury or death.
If convicted, Pinot-Duarte could face up to 10 years in federal prison followed by removal from the United States.
Pinot-Duarte remains in federal custody pending trial.