Thread: Traffic stop foils illegal immigrant smuggling operation; 11 jailed

Traffic stop foils illegal immigrant smuggling operation; 11 jailed

kiiitv.com
By Cathryn Khalil - email
Updated: Dec 23, 2011 7:26 PM EST

News Video at Link

story courtesy of the Tyler Morning Telegraph
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

BULLARD --A traffic stop in Bullard Thursday night landed 11 people behind bars in what police say was an smuggling operation bringing illegal immigrants into the country from Mexico.

Bullard Police Sgt. Jeff Bragg said Officer Stuart Alexander was patrolling U.S. 69 about midnight when he spotted a GMC Yukon with a defective light, so he initiated a traffic stop.

"He made contact with the driver of the vehicle, but he noticed there were 10 other people in the vehicle. He began questioning the driver and passengers and began to get conflicting stories," he said.

Bragg said Alexander called for backup from Smith County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he learned that Victor Guzman, 34, of Houston, and Cayetano Torres-Rodriguez, 55, of Pasedena, were actually running a smuggling operation and the other nine passengers had paid to gain entry to the states.


Cayetano Torres-Rodriguez

Victor Guzman

Alexander said further questioning proved that Torres-Rodriguez is also an illegal immigrant.

ICE officials at the scene questioned the men to find out where they crossed the border and learned that money was exchanged for the ride to the states.

However, Bragg said he was not aware of the dollar amount involved.

"All of the men were transported to the Smith County Jail, by Smith County Sheriff's deputies and our officers to be held. The nine passengers will be deported after ICE officials from Dallas can process them and both Guzman and Torres-Rodriguez are being held on criminal charges," he said.

Bragg said both men are charged with smuggling of persons for monetary gain and criminal conspiracy.

"Judge Randall Rogers came in very early this morning and arraigned them on the charges and set the bonds at $1 million for each charge, meaning both men are being held on $2 million in bonds. I think ICE really wanted to keep them in the area until they finish the investigation," he said.

Bragg said Alexander's diligence at looking for violations led to the arrests.

"This is a pretty big bust for the Bullard police," he said.

http://www.kiiitv.com/story/16386358...tion-11-jailed

Don't worry...Obama will give them amnesty and citizenship.