A Houston man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for smuggling 36 undocumented immigrants in a hidden compartment of a truck. Louis Dante Anthony, 29, pleaded guilty on January 30 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Morales, who also ordered three years of supervised release after prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office release.
The incident occurred on December 8, 2024, during a routine check at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint. Anthony claimed to be transporting furniture from Edington to Victoria but did not disclose that people were hidden in the vehicle. An x-ray scan revealed a concealed compartment measuring 8 by 4.25 feet with 36 individuals inside. The group included people from Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.
Judge Morales emphasized the dangerous conditions in which the individuals were transported. The compartment had no ventilation or way for the occupants to exit.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Pruitt following an investigation by Customs and Border Protection. Anthony is awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
