Man pleads guilty to transporting illegals
Staff report
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
FORT PIERCE — A Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to a charge of transporting illegal immigrants for private gain.
Juan Angel Lara-Morales was indicted last month on the charge after being arrested April 24 in St. Lucie County. Border patrol agents spotted him driving a van with Texas plates filled with people around 5 a.m. on Florida’s Turnpike.
After stopping the van, agents found 12 people besides the driver inside, though two ran from the van and could not be found later. Paperwork in the van showed Lara-Morales initially had 17 passengers, but had dropped some off. None of the people left in the van had paperwork to enter the country legally.
Lara-Morales will be sentenced Sept. 15 and faces up to 10 years in prison along with up to $250,000 in fines.
July 1, 2008
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