A Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling 119 aliens in a refrigerated trailer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Brodrick Keith Rhodes, 32, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens on April 7.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed down a 50-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The judge noted that Rhodes had transported an exceptionally high number of aliens in his trailer.
The crime occurred on January 12, when Rhodes arrived at the Freer Border Patrol checkpoint driving a semi-truck and refrigerated trailer. He claimed he was hauling lettuce, but authorities noticed discrepancies with his bill of lading. They also noted he appeared nervous and that the trailer was set to 30 degrees but with an internal temperature of 68.
At secondary inspection, law enforcement found 119 aliens in the trailer’s cargo area. The aliens told authorities that they had been taken to a truck and told to get in the trailer. It soon departed and did not stop until it reached the checkpoint.
Rhodes claimed he worked for a business in La Porte, but the bill of lading indicated he was transporting lettuce from a Laredo produce company to a location in Sugar Land. However, the business indicated that Rhodes had never been employed with them, and they do not transport outside the Houston area. The other two companies confirmed they had no record of the shipment.
Rhodes was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison prosecuted the case.
According to the indictment, Rhodes was charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. He is currently awaiting transport to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
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- Adan Hernandez-Nunez, Human Smuggling for Rape, Texas 2016 · Texas
- Joseph Edmond Cleveland, Human Smuggling, Texas 2024 · Texas
- Reynaldo Lerma-Pichardo, Human Smuggling and Hostage Taking, Texas … · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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