17 Illegal Aliens Rescued from Trailer Beyond Texas Border (update)
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by BOB PRICE
14 Aug 2017
Edinburg, TX
Police in the Rio Grande Valley rescued 17 illegal aliens whom human smugglers locked in a trailer for hours. The illegal aliens came to the U.S. from Romania, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Edinburg Police Assistant Police Chief Oscar Treviño told a local CBS affiliate the human smugglers locked the illegal aliens in the trailer for eight to nine hours. A relative called the police to report the conditions inside the trailer were becoming intolerable due to the heat, Valley Central CBS4 reported.
(video may be viewed at the source link)
The emergency call came from a family member in Mexico, officials reported. The caller said their relative was trapped inside a tractor-trailer parked at the Flying J truck stop in Edinburg. When police arrived on the scene, they began a trailer-to-trailer search. They eventually located a trailer where they received a response of people knocking on the walls from inside.
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector also responded to the scene and helped in the recovery and identification of the illegal aliens. Officials report they detained two Cuban nationals (male and female) in connection to the human smuggling case.
Police brought water and pizza for the illegal immigrants rescued from the potentially deadly situation.
The incident follows a similar human smuggling attempt that tragically ended in the deaths of 10 illegal aliens smuggled in a trailer found in San Antonio less than a month ago, Breitbart Texas reported. The truck driver, in that case, faces the death penalty if he is convicted on charges related to the smuggling and migrant deaths.
James Matthew Bradley, Jr. told the investigators he was “surprised when he was run over by ‘Spanish’ people” when he opened the rear door. He said he was knocked to the ground as they illegal aliens rushed out of the sweltering heat of the trailer. He reportedly admitted knowing the refrigeration systems did not work and that the vent holes were blocked. He claimed to have called his wife after the aliens escaped. Records show he did not call 911.
The smuggling victims tell a different story.
One of the illegal aliens, a Mexican national, told investigators he paid smugglers $5,500 (USD) as a transportation fee to his final destination — San Antonio, according to court records obtained by Breitbart Texas. He said he paid $11,000 Mexican pesos to Los Zetas-connected cartel members for protection. He paid an additional $1,500 pesos to smugglers who helped him cross the river on a raft. His group of 28 illegal aliens was picked up by a Silverado pickup truck and taken to the trailer. He said they were the last group to join the others already in the trailer.
The smugglers closed the door, locking the illegal aliens inside a pitch black trailer that was already oppressively hot. Smugglers told the aliens they would be transported later that night. They were provided no food or water during the trip, according to the criminal complaint.
At about 9 p.m., a smuggler opened the door and advised them they would be departing soon. They assured the victims the truck would be refrigerated and would be safe. The illegal aliens were given different colored tape to put on their wrists to indicate who would be picked up by what smuggling groups later.
After about an hour into the journey, the alien being interviewed said many people began having difficulty breathing. They began pounding on the wall to get the driver to stop. He never did.
Some of the aliens found a small hole for ventilation. They took turns using the hole to breathe. When the truck eventually stopped, many people fell to the ground, he said, because they were weak.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are investigating the Edinburg case, according to ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda.
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/...-texas-border/
Grand jury indicts driver in smuggling case that left 10 illegal immigrants dead
Federal human-trafficking conspiracy charges could bring death penalty
By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, August 16, 2017
A federal grand jury in Texas lodged human trafficking charges against James Matthew Bradley Jr. on Wednesday in connection with last month’s horrific smuggling incident that left 10 illegal immigrants dead.
The deaths stunned the country, and sparked a renewed debate about the rough conditions illegal immigrants often brave in order to sneak into the U.S. and get to a final destination here.
As many as 200 illegal immigrants were packed into the trailer of the truck, but authorities found just 39 at the scene when they arrived at a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio on July 23 after receiving a tip from a store employee that something was wrong.
Nine of the migrants were dead that night, and a 10th died the next day. Two more remain hospitalized, 22 remain in federal custody as witnesses, while four children and one adult have been released to the government.
The one adult is in deportation proceedings while the children were turned over to social workers.
Of the 10 dead, one was a juvenile.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...llegal-alien-/
Truck Driver Pleads Guilty for Human Smuggling Deaths of 10 Illegal Aliens
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by BOB PRICE
16 Oct 2017
San Antonio, TX
A truck driver who packed up to 200 illegal aliens into the back of his tractor-trailer pleaded guilty to Transporting Undocumented Aliens Resulting in Death. A total of 10 died after being locked for hours in the Texas summer heat.
James Matthew Bradley, Jr. pleaded guilty while appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad in San Antonio on Monday afternoon. Bradley pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death and one count of transporting aliens resulting in death. He could face up to life in prison during a sentencing hearing scheduled for January 2018.
Bradley admitted that he conspired to transport and did transport illegal aliens into the U.S. with reckless disregard that they entered the U.S. illegally. He also admitted that his actions resulted in the deaths of 10 undocumented aliens. Eight of those were found in the back of his trailer in a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio on July 23. Two others died later at a local hospital.
Daryl Fields, spokesman for the Western District of Texas office listed the following deceased illegal aliens:
Ruben Hernandez-Vargas, age 27, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
Osbaldo Rodriguez-Cerda, age 21, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
Frank Fuentes-Gonzalez, age 18, of Guatemala, died July 23, 2017
Jorge Reyes-Noveron, age 26, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
** Mariano Lopez-Cano, age unknown, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
Jose Rodriguez-Aspeitia, age 36, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
Benjamin Martinez-Arredondo, age 37, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
** Ricardo Martinez-Esparza, age 24, of Mexico, died July 24, 2017
One other adult male had not been identified at the time of publication.
** indicates individual died after being transported to local hospital
Investigators said in the previously reported criminal complaint:
Bradley said he was traveling from Laredo to San Antonio, after having the tractor-trailer washed and detailed at a truck stop near Laredo. He intended to take the trailer to Brownsville to deliver it to someone who had purchased it. He stopped at the Wal-Mart and heard banging and shaking in the trailer.
Bradley told investigators he had his truck and trailer washed in Laredo. He later moved the rig to another stop where he reportedly had the tractor-trailer “detailed.” He disclosed his final destination to be Brownsville, Texas, where he was delivering the trailer to a new owner. The criminal complaint does not say why he would choose to go through San Antonio, a detour that adds more than 200 miles to the trip.
“Today’s admission of guilt by Mr. Bradley helps to close the door on one of the conspirators responsible for causing the tragic loss of life and wreaking havoc on those who survived this horrific incident,” Shane M. Folden, special agent in charge, HSI San Antonio, said in a written statement. “This case is a glaring reminder that alien smugglers are driven by greed and have little regard for the health and well-being of their human cargo, which can prove to be a deadly combination. HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations, who continually victimize people for profit.”
In September, prosecutors added a second suspect to the indictment.
Prosecutors charged Pedro Silva Segura, a 47-year-old illegal alien living in Laredo, Texas, with one count of “conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens for financial gain resulting in death,” according to information provided to Breitbart Texas by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. If convicted, Silva faces up to life in prison.
Silva’s alleged role in the conspiracy was to transport the illegal aliens and deliver them to Bradley in Laredo, the DOJ stated. Police in Laredo arrested Silva on an unrelated charge. Federal prosecutors are in the process of arranging his transfer to the courthouse in San Antonio where he will face the new charges.
Silva remains in federal custody pending his trial.
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/...llegal-aliens/
Defendant in deadly San Antonio tractor trailer receives life in prison
4/20/2018
Responsible for the death of 10 individuals
SAN ANTONIO — The defendant charged with an illegal alien smuggling operation that resulted in 10 deaths was sentenced to life in prison Friday.
This sentencing was announced by Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney, John Bash, Western District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Antonio.
James Matthew Bradley Jr., 61, from Louisville, KY appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Ezra, April 20 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Judge Ezra also ordered that Bradley forfeit to the Government his tractor-trailer rig, plus approximately $5,600 in U.S. currency and a .38 caliber pistol recovered from inside the cab.
“Smuggling illegal aliens into this country disregards both our laws and their safety,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “The defendant's actions in this case led to the agonizing deaths of 10 people. Were it not for his actions, they might still be alive today. This case is a reminder of why the Trump administration and this Department of Justice have renewed our commitment to enforcing our criminal immigration laws and why we are going to continue to work to secure our borders. I want to thank the fabulous Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted this case, Christina Playton and Matthew Lathrop, as well as our partners with ICE, HSI, CBP, the San Antonio Police and Fire Departments and the Bexar County Sheriff's Office for helping us achieve justice. This tragic case is yet another reminder that Congress must end the incentives that encourage illegal immigration and alien smuggling in the first place.”
After sentencing U.S. Attorney Bash said, “I am gratified that the court imposed an appropriate punishment for this horrific crime. Through this prosecution, we have sent two unmistakable messages: first, that alien smuggling is a dangerous offense with real victims; and second, that DOJ will seek justice for all victims of crime, no matter their legal status.” “But I have a further message for those employers who knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants by the dozens, in blatant violation of federal law: You are creating the economic incentive for precisely the sort of deadly exploitation of vulnerable people that occurred in this case. And we will be looking very hard at how our system of criminal justice can eliminate that incentive.”On October 16, 2017, Bradley pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death and one count of transporting aliens resulting in death. By pleading guilty, Bradley admitted that on July 23, 2017, he conspired to transport and did transport illegal aliens in the United States for financial gain; to further their illegal entry into this country; with reckless disregard that they entered this country illegally; and, which resulted in the death of ten illegal aliens.
According to court records, Bradley admitted were factually correct, San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers responded to a call at the Wal-Mart store located at 8538 Interstate 35 in San Antonio shortly after midnight on Sunday, July 23, 2017. An officer encountered a tractor-trailer behind the store, finding many people standing and lying in the rear of the trailer, and the driver, Bradley, in the cab. At the scene, law enforcement officers discovered 39 illegal aliens. Of the 39 aliens found at the scene 10 died; eight died in the trailer and two died later in area hospitals. There were four juveniles, aged 14 to 17 years old, within the group of aliens in Bradley’s trailer who were unaccompanied by an adult. Court records further state that the illegal aliens estimated the trailer contained between 70 and 180 to 200 people during transport. They also described differing fees for being transported.
“Today’s sentencing of James Matthew Bradley Jr. brings some closure to a truly horrific and unnecessary tragedy that involved exploiting human cargo for pure greed,” said Special Agent in Charge, Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. “Not only were ten lives lost, but many more were injured as a result of Bradley’s participation in this illegal scheme. HSI continues to aggressively target and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that profit from the suffering of individuals. On a daily basis, criminal networks conspire to smuggle, transport and harbor individuals for financial gain at the expense of others.”
Bradley’s co-defendant, 47-year-old Pedro Silva Segura, an illegal alien residing in Laredo, Texas, faces one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and two counts of transporting illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. Those charges stem from a superseding federal grand jury indictment handed down on Sept. 20, 2017. Silva, who was arrested in Laredo on an alien smuggling charge, is in federal custody awaiting transfer to San Antonio. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Playton, Western District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/de...es-life-prison
