A 61 year old Florida trucker pleaded guilty today in connection with the bungled human smuggling attempt that ended with 10 illegal immigrants dead or dying in the back of a sweltering tractor trailer, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
James Bradley faces life in prison when he is sentenced in January.
Bradley admitted in federal court in San Antonio today that he picked up as many as 200 illegal immigrants in Laredo on the evening of July 22, packed them into a trailer when he knew the air conditioning was broken, and transported them for cash to the parking lot of a Walmart on San Antonio's south side.
When the door to the trailer was opened, 8 of the illegals were dead. 2 more died later in local hospitals, and 24 had to be treated for heat stroke, dehydration,and other heat related conditions.
Most of the immigrants were from Mexico.. Four unaccompanied children as young as 14 were in the group.
Bradley was originally facing the death penalty, but he was re-indicted last month on lesser charges.
An illegal immigrant living in Laredo, Pedro Silva, is now charged with organizing the immigrant smuggling attempt.. Silva is in custody in Laredo awaiting a hearing.
Most of the surviving victims have been released from federal custody, and many are believed to be in the process of being deported.
Photo: (The parking lot of a Walmart, where the truck trailer was found - Getty Images)