Two Texas residents have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to transport illegal aliens, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The incident took place on March 22, when authorities noticed a Ford Expedition avoiding a Border Patrol checkpoint near Laredo.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Mac Quese Howard, 20, with De Richardson Miller, 18, in the passenger seat providing directions. Upon conducting a traffic stop, authorities discovered three illegal aliens concealed in the back seat of the vehicle.
Both Miller and Howard confessed that their trip to Laredo was specifically to pick up and transport the aliens to San Antonio in exchange for payment. Howard anticipated receiving $5,000 for completing this task, which he intended to share with Miller.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will determine sentencing at a later date. Both individuals face potential sentences of up to 10 years in federal prison and fines reaching $250,000.
Currently, Howard remains in custody while Miller has been released on bond pending the sentencing hearing. The investigation was carried out by Border Patrol officials and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
