Jury convicts truck driver of illegally transporting people

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has convicted a 52-year-old Texan for transporting illegal aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery today.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Rodolfo Cazares, San Juan, following a two-day trial

At trial, the jury heard on June 19, 2021, Cazares drove a tractor trailer to the Sarita Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. At initial inspection, a K-9 alerted law enforcement to the tractor. They subsequently discovered four undocumented individuals hidden within various parts of the vehicle.

The individuals admitted to being in the country illegally. They also described to authorities how they were loaded into the trailer earlier that night.

Cazares attempted to convince the jury he did not know the individuals were in the tractor. The jury ultimately did not believe his claims and found Cazares guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David Morales presided over trial and set sentencing for Jan. 30, 2023. At that time, Cazares faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. 

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roland Swanson and Tyler Foster are prosecuting the case.