James Bradley, 60, of Clearwater Florida, who was driving the eighteen wheeler that was loaded with illegal immigrants, will make his initial appearance in federal court today, to face still unspecified charges, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Bradley was arrested by San Antonio Police at the scene, where 39 undocumented immigrants were found packed into a sweltering 18 wheeler in the back parking lot of the Walmart on I-35 and Highway 16 south.
U.S., Attorney Richard Durbin did not sound like a man who is willing to cut Bradley a break."The south Texas heat is punishing this time of year, with temperaturs of 100 degrees or higher," Durbin said. "These people were helpless in the hands of their transporters."
Federal officials confirmed that all ten of the dead are adult males, but some of those still hospitalized are children as young as 15.
Bradley is believed to have knowingly transported illegal immigrants from the U.S. Mexico border to the parking lot of the Walmart, which is believed to have been the staging area for immigrant smugglers to pick them up and transport them to their eventual destinations.
Durbin has this description of Bradley and the people he worked for."Ruthless human smugglers, indifferent to the well being of their fragile human cargo."
Bradley could also face state charges up to murder. The driver of an 18 wheeler who abandoned dozens of illegal immigrants in Victoria in 2003 was convicted of murder, although the conviction was later reduced.