(Convicted Murderer)…He was caught trying to smuggle people.

It happened Saturday evening, at around 5:30. A man driving a Chevy pickup approached the Highway 86 checkpoint. The vehicle contained 4 passengers. During the immigration interview, the driver said the three occupants sitting in the back seat had their immigration documents in their bags in the bed of the truck. Border Patrol agents sent the pickup to the secondary inspection area. During the more detailed inspection agents determined the 3 in the back seat were undocumented immigrants. A records check on the driver determined he was a 48 year old male who had been convicted of murder in November 1997 out of Orange. He also had felony convictions for carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance and participation in a criminal street gang. The driver and female front passenger, both US citizens, were arrested for human smuggling. The other 3, all Mexican Citizens, were arrested for being illegally present in the United States.