Federal authorities say that a Texas-based truck driver has pled guilty to charges related to human smuggling.
Thirty year old Leonidas Navarro has pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to transport aliens within the country, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas.
Authorities say that on January 21, 2020, Navarro was driving a semi truck through the Laredo North Border Patrol checkpoint on I-35 when a canine unit alerted to the presence of contraband in the trailer.
Navarro was reportedly unable to provide a bill of lading for the freight he was supposed to be transporting. He was referred for a secondary inspection.
However, authorities say that rather than comply with the inspection, Navarro “increased his speed and drove through a fence and into a field before he ultimately crashed.”
Navarro attempted to flee on foot but was quickly captured.
Authorities discovered 63 people hidden inside the trailer.
No one was seriously hurt during the crash through the fence and attempt to flee.
Navarro will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol.