LAREDO, Texas – George Lester Stewart, a 61-year-old man from Wheeler, Michigan, has been locked up after being caught with 10 illegal aliens stowed away in the back of a Penske rental truck. The grim discovery was made by Border Patrol agents near Freer on April 5, 2016.
The jury convicted Stewart following an hour of deliberation on June 22, 2016, and today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced him to 71 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
During the trial, authorities revealed that Stewart claimed the truck was empty but upon inspection, the padlocked cargo area held 10 individuals, locked for hours in sweltering temperatures. Stewart’s claim of being paid to transport furniture from McAllen to Houston was met with skepticism by the jury, who found him guilty of conspiracy to transport aliens for financial gain and two counts of transporting illegal aliens.
Stewart initially admitted his involvement but later recanted, stating he had no knowledge of the aliens. However, the evidence proved too compelling, and Stewart’s extensive criminal history did not help his case in the eyes of Judge Marmolejo.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Howard and Jorge Vela prosecuted the case, ensuring justice for the victims and the safety of American citizens.
Stewart will remain in custody while awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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