Woman arrested for smuggling five undocumented immigrants

A 40-year-old woman was arrested Thursday afternoon after allegedly attempting to smuggle five undocumented immigrants inside her vehicle while crossing through the Border Patrol’s Highway 86 checkpoint.

Starla Westcott, city of residence undisclosed, was taken into custody at 2 p.m. Thursday at the checkpoint by Border Patrol agents and booked into county jail on no bond on suspicion of bringing undocumented immigrants into the United States, county Sheriff’s Office arrest records stated.

According to a federal court complaint, Westcott attempted to cross through the checkpoint at approximately 2:30 a.m. Thursday while driving a silver Mercury Grand Marquis.

An agent at the checkpoint performing primary inspections reportedly observed that Westcott’s vehicle was riding low as if it was carrying a heavy load in the trunk.

The agent then questioned Westcott as to her citizenship, during which the agent noticed what appeared to be a person wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of the Mercury.

After Westcott gave consent to a vehicle search, an agent lifted the blanket and noticed two subjects attempting to conceal themselves.

Westcott and the vehicle were then referred to secondary inspection, where agents discovered three additional individuals in the trunk of the Mercury.

BP agents ascertained that the five individuals were Mexico citizens without the proper immigration documentation to enter, reside or work in the United States legally.

In the court complaint, Westcott stated she lives in San Bernardino and was visiting San Diego for a few days. Westcott said that while traveling eastbound on I-8, she observed several people on the side of the road who needed a ride.

Westcott stated that she suspected that they were illegal aliens and decided to give them a ride. She also stated that she wanted to impress her boyfriend by transporting “illegal aliens.”