Torrie Franklin, Human Trafficking, Texas 2020

Defendant Caught Smuggling Undocumented Chinese National

A 45-year-old Houston man, Torrie Franklin, has been ordered to prison for 42 months following his conviction for transporting an undocumented Chinese national, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Franklin on February 4 following a one-day trial in Corpus Christi federal court.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Franklin to serve a 42-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On November 12, 2019, Franklin drove a blue four-door sedan into the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol Checkpoint located near Falfurrias, where authorities conducted a routine inspection.

A K-9 alerted to the trunk of the vehicle, and authorities found an undocumented Chinese national inside. Franklin claimed the man asked for a ride to Houston despite not speaking English.

However, the Chinese national testified that Franklin was the one who placed him in the trunk. Excerpts of Franklin’s phone calls, in which he admitted his role in the offense, were also presented as evidence.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Franklin was merely a good Samaritan providing a ride, but the jury ultimately found him guilty as charged.

Franklin has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

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