Driver who claimed to be hauling bananas indicted on human smuggling charges

A truck driver found transporting 115 undocumented immigrants has been indicted on human smuggling charges. 

The incident took place on July 19th, 2021, but the truck driver, Michael Warren McCoy, was not indicted until August 10th. 

According to LMT News, McCoy was pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper at around 6 a.m. for failing to stay in his lane. During the encounter, McCoy told the trooper he was hauling bananas, and when the trooper questioned if there were migrants in the trailer, McCoy said no, and gave consent for the officer to search the trailer. 

During the search, the trooper found 115 undocumented people hiding inside of the refrigerated trailer. McCoy was taken into custody and during his post-arrest statement he stated that he had been contracted by a man to haul the trailer for $250 and that he had already completed three prior trips. 

A grand jury has since charged McCoy with conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien within the United States, and transport and attempt to transport an undocumented alien within the United States for financial gain. If convicted, he could be sentenced to as many as 10 years. 

Homeland Security Investigations special agents are still investigating the case.