Employees of illegal immigrant transport service facing charges after van stopped in Fort Pierce
By Derek Simmonsen


Updated 04:40 p.m., March 6, 2008

FORT PIERCE — Two people who work for a van service that transports illegal immigrants across the country are facing federal charges after being arrested early Wednesday, according to court records released Thursday.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent received a tip around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday that a van was traveling south on Interstate 95 that might be carrying about 15 illegal immigrants. The agent stopped near the Okeechobee Road exit on I-95 and saw the van pass by around 1:30 a.m., according to a complaint affidavit filed in the case.

After stopping the van on Okeechobee Road, the agent saw what looked to be an “excessive amountâ€