U.S. jury deliberates immigrant smuggler case
{{date|March 21, 2005}}
A [[w:Houston|Houston]] jury resumes deliberations today in a federal [[w:Smuggle|smuggling]] case where 19 [[w:illegal|illegal]] [[w:Imigrants|immigrants]]  died from heat and lack of oxygen.  The defendant, Tyrone Williams, 34, could face the death penalty for his alleged involvement in harboring and transporting illegal immigrants across the [[w:United States|US-]][[w:Mexico|Mexican]] border.

He was reportedly paid $7,500 to bring the immigrants to Houston in a [[w:Tractor trailer|tractor trailer truck]].

Williams, a [[w:Jamaca|Jamaican]] citizen, was a member of a [[w:Crime ring|smuggling ring.]] He alone faces [[w:Capital punishment|capital punishment charges]], while 14 other ring members were charged with less serious offenses for their involvement in the case. Williams allegedly made a four-hour trip across the border and then parked at a truck stop in [[w:Victoria, Texas|Victoria]], about 100 miles from Houston. He left the truck while 75 persons suffered in the cargo area of the trailer during sweltering heat.

The prosecution claims he abandoned the trailer while ignoring screams for help and banging on the walls from those inside the trailer.

His defense attorneys argue Williams was unable to hear anything from the trailer, and they further say greed by other ring members was the cause of the deaths since the trailer was so overcrowded. Williams should not be singled out, his attorneys maintained, just because he was the driver of the truck.

"He didn't care," said federal prosecutor Daniel Rodriguez during closing arguments. "To him, these weren't people, they were merchandise."

The jury asked U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore three questions before the trial was adjourned for the weekend.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3095989
|title=Immigrant smuggling jury unable to reach a verdict
|author=Dale Lezon
|pub=Houston Chronicle
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=600089
|title=Jury Deliberates Deadly Smuggler Case
|author=Juan A. Lozano ([[Associated Press|AP]])
|pub=ABC News (US)
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7949345
|title=Jury Begins Deliberation in Immigrant Death Case
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 18, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-truck18mar18,1,7309281.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=3&cset=true
|title=Smuggling Charges Found Faulty
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=Los Angeles Times
|date=March 18, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://ap.emeraldcoast.com/stories/national/9_ds_400297.php
|title=Immigrant-Smuggling Suspect Goes on Trial
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=Emerald Coast
|date=March 8, 2005}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
A Houston jury resumes deliberations today in a federal smuggling case where 19 illegal immigrants  died from heat and lack of oxygen.  The defendant, Tyrone Williams, 34, could face the death penalty for his alleged involvement in harboring and transporting illegal immigrants across the US-Mexican border.

He was reportedly paid $7,500 to bring the immigrants to Houston in a tractor trailer truck.

Williams, a Jamaican citizen, was a member of a smuggling ring. He alone faces capital punishment charges, while 14 other ring members were charged with less serious offenses for their involvement in the case. Williams allegedly made a four-hour trip across the border and then parked at a truck stop in Victoria, about 100 miles from Houston. He left the truck while 75 persons suffered in the cargo area of the trailer during sweltering heat.

The prosecution claims he abandoned the trailer while ignoring screams for help and banging on the walls from those inside the trailer.

His defense attorneys argue Williams was unable to hear anything from the trailer, and they further say greed by other ring members was the cause of the deaths since the trailer was so overcrowded. Williams should not be singled out, his attorneys maintained, just because he was the driver of the truck.

"He didn't care," said federal prosecutor Daniel Rodriguez during closing arguments. "To him, these weren't people, they were merchandise."

The jury asked U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore three questions before the trial was adjourned for the weekend.

*

*

*

*
Published North America Crime and law