Thread: TX: Feds find immigrants hidden in Wal-Mart truck

Feds find immigrants hidden in Wal-Mart truck
Comments 3 | Recommend 2
November 17, 2008 - 7:19 PM
Jeremy Roebuck
The Monitor
McALLEN -- A Wal-Mart truck driver will face federal charges for allegedly trying to sneak illegal immigrants into the country in a company tractor-trailer.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Alejandro Hernandez, 50, after finding four Mexican nationals locked in the back of his 18-wheeler, according to court filings obtained Monday.

Investigators believe Hernandez made at least five similar smuggling trips through the Falfurrias checkpoint in the last year and was working with another known coyote.

"At Wal-Mart we expect our associates to conduct themselves in a lawful and ethical manner," company spokesman Don Fogleman said. "This situation is of deep concern."

ICE agents began following Hernandez on Thursday after receiving a tip about his purported illegal activity, according to the criminal complaint filed in his case.

The truck driver delivered a load of merchandise to the Wal-Mart location at 2800 W. Nolana in McAllen and then drove his empty 18-wheeler to a truck stop along U.S. 281 in Edinburg.

There, he allegedly loaded the immigrants into his truck and proceeded toward Falfurrias with a 15-passenger van following behind. Authorities detained Hernandez and the van's driver, Leonor Gomez, 29, just south of the checkpoint.

Gomez admitted to smuggling immigrants after her arrest but insisted the Wal-Mart driver had been an unwitting conspirator, according to the complaint.

She said that she snuck the men and women into Hernandez's truck without his knowledge and planned to follow him to his destination and sneak them out.

But her mother, Santos Gomez Moreno, 61, was also arrested and said she had witnessed Hernandez and her daughter make smuggling trips on at least five occasions.

As of late Monday night, Hernandez and the Gomez women remained in federal custody. Each could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Hernandez's attorney Reynaldo Merino said he had not had a chance to meet with his client when reached for comment late Monday night.

Hernandez has been suspended without pay from his job pending the resolution of his case, Fogleman said.

"Wal-Mart has been in full cooperation with the investigation and we will continue to do so," he said.

www.themonitor.com

"At Wal-Mart we expect our associates to conduct themselves in a lawful and ethical manner," company spokesman Don Fogleman said. "This situation is of deep concern."

Must be coincidence that their Southern IN warehouses are surrounded by Mexican villages.

I guess if Wal-Mart can't get enough customers during these hard times they just import more?

Comments 3| Recommend 0
Investigators: Wal-Mart truck used to smuggle illegal immigrants into Texas

12:17 PM CST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas -- A Wal-Mart truck driver and two women were arrested, accused of attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants through a Border Patrol checkpoint in the rig’s trailer.

Alejandro Hernandez, 50, unloaded a delivery at a Wal-Mart in McAllen then stopped at an Edinburg truckstop. There Leonor Gomez, 29, and her mother Santos Gomez Moreno, transferred the immigrants from their van to Hernandez’s trailer, according documents filed in federal court Monday.

Wal-Mart assisted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to identify Hernandez’s route and truck after federal authorities were tipped to his alleged activities.

[b]“At Wal-Mart we expect our associates to conduct themselves in a lawful and ethical manner,â€

Wal-Mart trucker smuggles illegals across border
Federal agents say trailer used to transport aliens at least 6 times

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: November 18, 2008
10:19 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily


The Wal-Mart slogan of "Always" is taking on new meaning after a company truck was used as many as six times recently to smuggle illegal aliens into the U.S. through Texas.

The driver, Alejandro Hernandez, 50, and two women were arrested for their roles in the operation.

Hernandez took a delivery to a Wal-Mart in McAllen, Texas, and then loaded his trailer with illegals in Edinburg, the McAllen Monitor reported. A mother and daughter, Santos Moreno and Leonor Gomez, brought the aliens to Edinburg in their 15-passenger van and transferred them into his truck before proceeding on to a checkpoint.

Wal-Mart cooperated with authorities during the investigation and helped federal agents track Hernandez's truck route.

"At Wal-Mart we expect our associates to conduct themselves in a lawful and ethical manner," company spokesman Don Fogleman told the Monitor. "This situation is of deep concern."

Authorities say Hernandez smuggled illegals through border checkpoints at least a half-dozen times. Agents arrested the three Thursday, just south of a checkpoint, and took four illegals into custody.


Gomez confessed to smuggling, but she told authorities the driver did not know the illegal aliens were in his trailer. However, Moreno admitted she had seen Hernandez and Gomez make at least five additional smuggling trips across the border.

Hernandez has been suspended from his job. Each suspect faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.


http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=P ... geId=81351

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-3743--0-0.html

I think this might be part of their new "Ship to store" pgm I see advertised on tv?

At the end of the commercial the woman says "I would have paid anything"

Well............That's exactly what has happened, The American taxpayers have been forced to write a blank check to cover this type of behavior.

Why wont our gvt protect us?

It's so hard to get seasonal workers, how can you blame Wal-Mart they
have a wonder track record of having illegal alien workers cleaning their stores, and locking employees in till all the little smiling yellow faces are in place. Having traveling companions for the drivers only enhances the "Family Value" experience and enriches Wal -Marts Corporate Culture.

I'm sorry but there is no way that driver didn't know what was going on. Those truck doors are almost always locked for liability reasons and to protect the trailer and load and the driver has the key.

Dixie