Jury convicts South Carolina woman of human smuggling

LAREDO, Texas – A 46-year-old Columbia, South Carolina, resident has been found guilty of transporting illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for over five hours before convicting Sharon Thompkins following a two-day trial late July 15.

On April 26, a blue tractor trailer approached Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint 29 near Laredo. Ralph Young was driving with Tompkins as passenger.

An x-ray examination revealed anomalies in the vehicle. Upon further inspection, authorities discovered four illegal aliens sitting side-by-side on the bed in the sleeper compartment.

The jury heard that Thompkins agreed to help transport aliens with Young. Testimony revealed Thompkins instructed the aliens to sit on the bed in the sleeper compartment and closed the curtains in order to conceal them.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Thompkins was merely present and did not agree to illegally transport aliens. The jury did not believe those claims and found Thomkins guilty.

U.S. District Judge John A Kazen presided over the trial and 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.

Young, 62, Columbia, South Carolina, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and also remains in custody pending sentencing.

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. and Tae Chon are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.