LAREDO, Texas – In a high-profile human smuggling case, 46-year-old Columbia, South Carolina, resident Sharon Thompkins has been found guilty of transporting illegal aliens across the border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
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The jury took over five hours to deliberate after a two-day trial held late July 15. Thompkins was convicted following the examination of a blue tractor-trailer that approached Border Patrol checkpoint 29 near Laredo on April 26.
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Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered four illegal aliens concealed in the sleeper compartment. Ralph Young, 62, from Columbia, South Carolina, was driving with Thompkins as a passenger at the time. The x-ray examination of the vehicle revealed anomalies that led to this discovery.
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During the trial, it was revealed that Thompkins had agreed to help transport aliens with Young. She directed the aliens to sit on the bed in the sleeper compartment and closed the curtains to conceal them from view. Despite defense claims that Thompkins was merely present and did not agree to transport illegal aliens, the jury found her guilty.
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U.S. District Judge John A Kazen presided over the trial and has set sentencing for September. At that time, Thompkins faces up to five years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
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Young, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, also remains in custody awaiting sentencing. The Border Patrol conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. and Tae Chon prosecuting the case.
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This case is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime. It represents a collaborative effort between the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Related Federal Cases
- 16 Indicted in Texas Bank Fraud Ring: $1.3M Losses · Alabama
- Smuggler Thompkins Found Guilty in Laredo · South Carolina
- Predator Rodriguez Gets 20 Years for CSAM, Smuggling · South Carolina
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Florence Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Over 11 Years · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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