KENNEDY COUNTY, Texas – A Houston man is facing felony charges of human smuggling after state troopers found 16 migrants behind a false wall of a trailer.
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper stopped a Ford F-250 that was towing a cargo trailer on U.S. 77 in Kennedy County on Monday.
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Anthony Jhonson, 42, of Houston was behind the wheel, according to a post by Lt. Chris Olivarez.
VIDEO: TXDPS Troopers Find 16 Illegal Immigrants Inside Trailer False Wall
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) September 19, 2024
9/16: A @TxDPS Trooper stopped a Ford F-250 towing a cargo trailer on US 77 in Kenedy County.
During the stop, the driver, Anthony Jhonson of Houston, consented to a search of the trailer. During that… pic.twitter.com/wwvcnwdxyA
Jhonson consented to a search of the trailer, where troopers say they found a false wall.
Body cam video shows troopers using drills to remove the false wall where 16 people were found “crammed inside a small compartment with no air ventilation.”
The people were found to be in the country illegally, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Johnson was arrested and charged with 16 counts of smuggling of persons with the likelihood of substantial bodily injury or death.
The migrants were referred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
