In a recent federal court proceeding, a man involved in a significant smuggling operation has been handed a heavy prison sentence, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Anthony Lenard Williams, 27, from Pharr, received a 96-month prison term for his part in a conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, a crime he pleaded guilty to on April 28, 2023. Following his prison sentence, Williams will also be subject to two years of supervised release, as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas reported.
Despite having been previously released on bond, Williams was found to persist in organizing the illicit transport of individuals. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, overseeing the case, noted that Williams continued his activity even while on bond. Responsible for minimum, the smuggling of at least 560 undocumented aliens, with authorities hinting that the actual tally likely stretching into the thousands, Williams' operations sometimes involved packing as many as 115 people in the back of a tractor-trailer, including at times unaccompanied minors. In a regrettable incident, several individuals required treatment for severe dehydration due to dangerous transportation conditions.
The investigation into these smuggling activities began in summer 2021. It unveiled an organization responsible for trafficking thousands of undocumented aliens in tractor-trailers. Williams, along with Miguel Angel Hernandez, 26, of Donna, were pinpointed as the coordinators within this network. Hernandez, previously sentenced to 108 months in prison, is believed to have exercised greater leadership within the group compared to Williams.
Following his sentencing, Williams was taken into custody, where he will remain awaiting his transfer to a facility under the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The investigation leading to his and Hernandez's apprehension was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with the aid of Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Williams' case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña, who underlined the dangerous circumstances under which these smuggling victims were transported.
