A truck driver who was arrested for smuggling 39 undocumented immigrants has agreed to plead guilty in order to receive a lighter sentencing.
Drew Potter was arrested in September, last year, after Frio County officers discovered 39 undocumented immigrants crammed into the back of a semi trailer he was driving.
Potter initially told investigators that he placed a “driver for hire” ad on Craigslist a month before and received a call from two men to haul a trailer from Laredo to San Antonio.
Potter claimed that he did not know what was inside the trailer, but knew that he was “doing something illegal.” “The less I know, the better,” he added.
He said he was paid $800 to haul the load.
The bust was filmed on a Frio County officer’s body camera.
According to court documents, the immigrants were held at various “stash houses” in Laredo before being loaded onto a trailer at a warehouse. One of the immigrants claimed he saw Potter in the warehouse as he entered the trailer. Another witness said Potter offered the immigrants water as they were being loaded.
Under his plea agreement, Potter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport immigrants for the purpose of financial gain. As part of the deal, he also admitted that he knew what he was transporting and that he previously hauled two other trailers from Laredo to San Antonio.
Potter will be sentenced later this year. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, however as part of his plea deal both sides have agreed on a lighter 3 to 6 year sentence.