LAREDO, Texas - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 50-year-old Laredoan for charges related to the smuggling of an undocumented alien and fleeing from an immigration checkpoint, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Arturo Trevino is charged with one count of conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien and one count of high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. He is expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo in the near future.
According to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case, Trevino drove his pickup truck to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 north of Laredo on Sept. 3. Soon after, a K-9 allegedly alerted to the presence of concealed persons, according to the charges.
The complaint alleges authorities referred him to secondary inspection. However, he allegedly ignored their instruction, driving past it and back onto the interstate at a high rate of speed.
Authorities pursued the vehicle for nearly two miles as Trevino drove at speeds in excess of 75 mph, according to the charges. He allegedly drove his vehicle across the median and access road onto the grass, eventually crashing into an electric pole.
Authorities conducted a search of his pickup truck and allegedly discovered an undocumented alien from Mexico behind the driver’s seat.
If convicted, Trevino faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
