Trucker in deadly Texas immigrant case pleads guilty, faces life sentence
Source: Reuters
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The driver of a truck packed with immigrants, 10 of whom died due to sweltering Texas heat in July, pleaded guilty on Monday to human smuggling charges and could face up to life in prison, prosecutors said.
James Bradley Jr., 61, pleaded guilty at a federal court in San Antonio to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death and one count of transporting aliens resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said in a statement.
A sentencing hearing will be held in January, the office said. Lawyers for Bradley, who has been in custody since his arrest, declined to comment.
Bradley told investigators he was caught by surprise when he opened the trailer doors outside a Walmart store in San Antonio on July 23, only to be knocked down by a group of “Spanish” people pouring out of the rig, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.
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#U.S. OCTOBER 16, 2017 / 5:18 PM / UPDATED 19 MINUTES AGO
Jon Herskovitz
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-bodies-immigrants/trucker-in-deadly-texas-immigrant-case-pleads-guilty-faces-life-sentence-idUSKBN1CL2XS