Pedro Silva Segura, Human Trafficking, Texas 2018
San Antonio, Texas - In a shocking turn of events, Pedro Silva Segura, 47, has pleaded guilty to charges of human trafficking in a case that resulted in the deaths of 10 people last year.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Silva Segura could face a life sentence in prison after admitting to his role in the human trafficking ring. He appeared before Judge Majistrado Henry Bemporad, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to transport humans resulting in death.
As part of his plea, Silva Segura admitted to maintaining a house in Laredo, Texas, where undocumented immigrants were held while waiting for transportation to their final destination in the U.S. He also stated that approximately five undocumented immigrants departed from the house on June 22, 2017, and were delivered to a tractor-trailer driven by James Matthew Bradley, 61.
On June 23, 2017, at approximately midnight, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) responded to a call at a local Walmart, where they found the tractor-trailer behind the store. Officers discovered 39 undocumented immigrants, including four minors between the ages of 14 and 17, who were left without adult supervision. Tragically, 10 of the immigrants died, with eight fatalities occurring in the trailer and two in local hospitals.
According to court records, the trailer contained approximately 70 undocumented immigrants, with 180-200 people transported during the journey. The investigation revealed that the immigrants were being transported for various rewards, which were not disclosed.
James Matthew Bradley, the tractor-trailer driver, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the investigation on October 16, 2017. He is currently in federal custody and awaits sentencing on March 26, 2018, where he faces a possible life sentence and forfeiture of the tractor-trailer, trailer, approximately $5,600 in cash, and a .38-caliber pistol recovered from the cab. Silva Segura is also in federal custody, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for June 29, 2018.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the National Security Investigation Office (HSI), the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Christina Playton and Matthew Lathrope are the assistant U.S. attorneys handling the case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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