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Drivers charged with transporting undocumented immigrants
By Ely Portillo
elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009



A van stopped Monday near Kannapolis was packed with undocumented immigrants who paid $1,000 each for transportation from Texas, according to federal criminal complaints filed Tuesday.


The complaint alleges that David Jimenez was paid $650 to drive the van for a Houston-based company, Transportes Amigos. A second man, Ihosvani Gomez-Rodriguez told investigators he was paid $500 to be co-driver, according to investigators.


The company has apparently been in trouble before. An article in the Washington Examiner said Maryland State Police pulled over a Transportes Amigos van with 11 undocumented immigrants on I-95 in August. Two men were charged with transporting undocumented immigrants for financial gain in that case, the article states.


Transportes Amigos is “a transportation company that transports persons from Houston all over the United States and charges them exorbitant rates,â€