Cuban Truck Driver Sentenced for Transporting Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.

After a two-day trial with ten people as witnesses and following a premeditated and scrutinized verdict, a federal jury in Corpus Christi, Texas, issued a guilty sentence on February 15, to a 38-year-old citizen.

The Charges and Deliberation

The charges respond to the offense of transporting illegal aliens within the United States, as referred by Federal Prosecutor Alamdar S. Hamdani, a case that was discussed in depth and took 90 minutes for the jury to deliberate.

The Arrest and Discovery

The defendant, Illeysel Carcasses, is of Cuban origin and was arrested on November 13, 2023, while driving a refrigerated truck to the Sarita Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint.

An initial inspection of the vehicle by a K-9 dog alerted the supervisors to examine the back of the truck in detail, to which Carcasses denied having keys to access the rear.

Upon searching the truck’s cabin, the keys were found and upon proceeding with the inspection, it resulted in the discovery of five undocumented individuals hiding among pallets of rotten products.

Trial Proceedings and Verdict

During the trial, the jury learned in detail how the individuals were locked inside the vehicle with no possibility of escape, while the defense made a vigorous attempt to convince the jury that the accused was unaware that the undocumented individuals were hiding in his truck.

However, evidence and investigations carried out by Homeland Security and the Border Patrol have indicated that Carcasses’ implicated cell phone was present at the location where the undocumented people were loaded into the vehicle, a fact that consequently proves the guilt of the accused and led the jury to declare him responsible for the charges imposed.

Sentencing and Bail

District Federal Judge –David S. Morales– presided over the trial and has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2024, facing up to five years in federal prison and a possible fine that sets a maximum amount of $250,000.

For the moment, Cuban Illeysel Carcasses has been allowed to remain on bail until the sentence is executed, a case that is being processed by Assistant Federal Prosecutors John Marck and Joseph Griffith.