LAREDO, Texas – Sharon Thompkins, 46, of Columbia, South Carolina, is facing federal prison time after a jury found her guilty of transporting illegal aliens. The conviction comes after a two-day trial concluded late July 15, with jurors deliberating for over five hours before reaching a verdict, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The case unfolded April 26th, when a blue tractor-trailer approached Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint 29 near Laredo. Ralph Young, 62, also of Columbia, South Carolina, was at the wheel with Thompkins as his passenger. A routine x-ray scan flagged anomalies within the vehicle, prompting a more thorough inspection. What authorities discovered was chilling: four individuals illegally present in the United States, crammed side-by-side on the bed in the sleeper compartment.
Testimony presented at trial revealed a deliberate scheme. Prosecutors successfully argued that Thompkins actively agreed to help Young transport the aliens. She didn’t just happen to be *present*; she directed the individuals to conceal themselves in the cramped sleeper berth and actively worked to cover them from view by closing the curtains. This wasn’t a case of ignorance, but calculated participation in a dangerous criminal enterprise.
The defense attempted a weak play, arguing Thompkins was merely a passenger and unaware of the illegal activity. The jury wasn’t buying it. They saw through the flimsy attempt to distance her from the operation and found her guilty as charged. Young previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and remains in custody awaiting his own sentencing hearing.
U.S. District Judge John A Kazen presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for Thompkins in September. She now faces up to five years in federal prison and a potential fine of $250,000. She remains in custody pending that hearing. This conviction is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a federal initiative designed to combat illegal immigration and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.
The investigation was spearheaded by Border Patrol agents. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. and Tae Chon are prosecuting the case, leveraging resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. The Department of Justice is clearly signaling a hard line on border security and those who facilitate the illegal movement of people across it.”
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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