Ex-con arrested for smuggling immigrants

On Friday, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station arrested a man, previously convicted for attempted murder, for suspected smuggling of four illegal immigrants, a Customs and Border Protection news release.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:58 p.m. Friday when a green Subaru Legacy approached the immigration checkpoint on Highway 111.

At primary inspection, agents asked the driver his immigration status.

The man reportedly said he was a U.S. citizen. Agents observed four other people in the rear seat of the vehicle and asked them their immigration status. When they did not answer the agent’s question, the agent asked the driver their immigration status.

The driver said, “no one” and sped away from the checkpoint.

Agents pursued the vehicle for a short distance. Soon after, the driver surrendered and was placed under arrest.

The occupants of the vehicle were interviewed and determined to be Mexican citizens without the proper paperwork to remain in the United States.

The driver, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen, was transported to the checkpoint for further questioning.

Records checks revealed he was arrested in 2012 for attempted murder, for which he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

He was again arrested in July 2018 for driving with a concealed weapon, which was a violation of his parole.

On Aug. 3, 2018, the Department of Corrections in Diamond Bar issued a warrant for his arrest.

The driver was turned over to Imperial Country Sheriffs’ Department pending extradition to the DOC.

The four passengers were processed appropriately, the news release stated.