Thread: SC: Pilot Faces Jail for flying illegals into SC

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.a ... 2&nav=0w0v

McAllen-Based Pilot

Updated: March 7, 2008 10:23 AM PST

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 show 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.

Related earlier post

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-106869.html

Jail and sell his plane at auction which law allows will set an example