A Florida trucker was sentenced to more than two years behind bars for smuggling a haul of human cargo. Joan Rincon, 43, was ordered to serve a 25-month sentence in federal prison following his guilty plea for the crime of transporting undocumented aliens, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Rincon, who admitted his guilt on July 27, was caught red-handed on May 7 near Sarita, Texas, when a canine officer alerted border patrol to his grain hauler. During a deeper check, they discovered 15 individuals crammed inside the sweltering container, fighting against the heat, and another five were found in the cabin. According to an official statement, one migrant reported they were not allowed to take water, were all sweating profusely, and were afraid they would pass out due to the heat.
At Rincon's sentencing, Federal Judge David S. Morales emphasized the severity of the offense. In a statement obtained by the Justice Department's website, the judge said the individuals "deserved better".
Rincon was permitted by the court to temporarily retain his freedom on bond and voluntarily surrender to a yet-to-be-determined prison. Following his prison term, he will be subjected to two years of supervised release, a time meant to closely monitor him.
The case was investigated by the Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster.
