Jury convicts RGV man for illegally transporting non-U.S. citizen

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Pharr resident has been convicted of unlawfully transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before finding Benjamin Ramirez guilty following a one-day trial.

The jury heard that Ramirez drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint with a passenger in the front seat. Law enforcement conducted a routine immigration inspection and determined the passenger was illegally present in the United States. 

At trial, Ramirez claimed that he had no idea the passenger was illegally in the country and that they were traveling to perform mechanical work in San Antonio. The jury did not believe defense claims and found Ramirez guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for Dec. 4, at which time Ramirez faces up to five years in federal prison.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.