Thread: Pilot Admits to Flying Immigrants from McAllen to South Caro

Pilot Admits to Flying Immigrants from McAllen to South Carolina
Updated: March 7, 2008 02:28 PM

He flew illegal immigrants from McAllen into the interior of the United States, but now a South Carolina pilot is facing prison time.

Federal court records show that pilot James Leroy Pierson flew at least ten immigrants from the Rio Grande Valley to South Carolina on three trips from December 2007 to January 2008.

Pierson appeared before a federal judge in Mississippi on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to a human smuggling charge.

Court documents show that Pierson was arrested by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents in Meridian, MS where authorities found two men, one woman and one child aboard his private plane.

All four of the passengers were undocumented immigrants from Mexico.

A criminal complaint filed against Pierson shows that airport officials in Beaumont, Texas became suspicious because he frequently flew the same, long route in such a small plane and paid for his fuel in cash.

Pierson told investigators that he was given $5,000 per trip and was able to pocket at least $3,600 after his expenses.

The Seneca, South Carolina pilot told agents he worked for a man named Chris Seaborn in South Carolina and a McAllen-based human smuggler named "Humberto".

Pierson told investigators he would pick up immigrants at local McAllen hotels and then take them to Miller International Airport where he would fly his plane to South Carolina.

Sentencing for Pierson was scheduled for June 2.

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=7981692

I sincerely hope they throw the book at that slime ball. We have a big enough illegal immigration problem in South Carolina as it is without this clown adding to it to line his pockets.

Johnny

This is another story better than busting a thousand illegal invaders.

Did you all see this one?

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-88923-.html