Texas Man Sentenced for Transporting Aliens in Truck’s Tool Box

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 34-year-old resident of San Antonio has been ordered to federal prison for illegally transporting undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Richard Sanchez pleaded guilty Nov. 7, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced Sanchez to 21 months imprisonment to be immediately followed by a year of supervised release.

On Oct. 10, 2017, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a pick-up truck Sanchez was driving near Raymondville. Sanchez consented to a search, after which authorities discovered two undocumented aliens from Mexico and Guatemala in the tool box that was attached to the pick-up truck. 

At the hearing today, the court heard about the inhumane and dangerous treatment of the undocumented aliens. They could not escape the toolbox due to a ladder leaning over it. Further, it had to be unlatched from the outside in order to be opened.

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

Customs and Border Protection and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Esquivel Jr. prosecuted the case.