2nd Man Charged for Deaths of 10 Illegal Aliens in Texas

Federal prosecutors obtained an indictment charging a second man for the deaths of 10 illegal immigrants while being smuggled in a hot 18-wheeler this summer. The Department of Justice (DOJ) also announced it is not seeking the death penalty in these cases.

Prosecutors charged Pedro Silva Segura, a 47-year-old illegal alien living in Laredo, Texas, with one count of “conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens for financial gain resulting in death,” according to information provided to Breitbart Texas by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. If convicted, Silva faces up to life in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged James Matthew Bradley, 60, earlier this year in relation to his role in allegedly transporting up to 200 illegal immigrants in the trailer he hauled from Laredo to San Antonio, Breitbart Texas reported. The incident led to the deaths of ten illegal immigrants, including one juvenile.

Spokesman Daryl Fields lists the following deceased illegal aliens:

• Ruben Hernandez-Vargas, age 27, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• Osbaldo Rodriguez-Cerda, age 21, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• Frank Fuentes-Gonzalez, age 18, of Guatemala, died July 23, 2017
• Jorge Reyes-Noveron, age 26, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• ** Mariano Lopez-Cano, age unknown, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• Jose Rodriguez-Aspeitia, age 36, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• Benjamin Martinez-Arredondo, age 37, of Mexico, died July 23, 2017
• ** Ricardo Martinez-Esparza, age 24, of Mexico, died July 24, 2017

** indicates individual who died after being transported to local hospital

The superseding indictment released Wednesday lists seven counts against the two men. Those charges include: one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens for financial gain resulting in death; one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens for financial gain resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy; and, two counts of transporting undocumented aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.

Bradley faces three additional counts of: transportation of undocumented aliens resulting in death; transporting undocumented aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy; and, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The firearms charge brings an additional sentence of up to 10 years in prison on top of any other sentences.

While police only found 39 illegal immigrants in the trailer when they arrived at the Walmart parking lot in July, they indicated up to 200 people may have been loaded into the trailer in Laredo. Police found a .38 caliber handgun in the cab of Bradley’s truck during the investigation.

Silva’s alleged role in the conspiracy was to transport the illegal aliens and deliver them to Bradley in Laredo, the DOJ stated. Police in Laredo arrested Silva on an unrelated charge. Federal prosecutors are in the process of arranging his transfer to the courthouse in San Antonio where he will face the new charges.