NOGALES, AZ -- Officials say a man who was driving a tractor trailer with nearly 100 undocumented immmigrants was charged in a U.S. district court Thursday.
Luis Antonio Mendoza, 26, of Fresno, Calif., faces charges of "conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit," according to United States Attorney spokesperson Sandra Raynor.
A traffic stop for faulty equipment Wednesday night led to the discovery of 96 undocumented immigrants stuffed inside a refrigerated commercial trailer. One more immigrant was inside the cab of the truck
A tip from federal agents led an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer to make the stop on Interstate 19 north of Nogales.
During a search of the trailer, the officer discovered the immigrants, including adults and children, in freezing conditions. The trailer carrying pallets of mangos had a temperature inside of 34 degrees.
The children ranged in age from 9 to 12.
Mendoza allegedly told officers that he knew the immmigrants were in the trailer and that he had instructions to take them to Eloy where they would be transferred to another vehicle.
Mendoza also told officers he thought there were only 15 immigrants in the trailer and that he was being paid $300 each for transporting them, according to court documents.
Witnesses reportedly said they made arrangements in Nogales, Mexico, to be smuggled into the United States and were to pay between $1,000 and $3,000. Phoenix was to be their final destination.
The U.S. Border Patrol and Customs responded and took custody of the immigrants.
DPS says the smuggled immigrants are from Mexico and Guatemala and will be returned home.
Mendoza's preliminary hearing has been set for Monday, August 3.
