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Date: 05-06-2020
Case Style:
United States of America v. Torrie Franklin
Case Number: 2:19-cr-02200
Judge: David S. Morales
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Nueces County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
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Corpus Christi, TX - The United States of America charged Torrie Franklin with transporting an undocumented alien.
A 45-year-old Houston man has been ordered to prison in Corpus Christi federal court following his conviction for transporting an undocumented Chinese national.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Torrie Franklin Feb. 4 following a one-day trial.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Franklin to serve a 42-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On Nov. 12, 2019, Franklin drove a blue four-door sedan into the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint located near Falfurrias. Upon his arrival, authorities conducted a routine inspection, at which time a K-9 alerted to the trunk of the vehicle. There, they found an undocumented Chinese national.
At the time of his arrest, Franklin told authorities he had encountered the man at a gas station. Franklin claimed the Chinese national asked for a ride to Houston, despite not knowing any English. He also said the man asked to ride in the trunk as opposed to inside the vehicle.
At trial, the jury heard from the Chinese national who said Franklin was the person who placed him inside the trunk. They also heard excerpts of Franklin’s phone calls in which he admitted his role in the offense.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Franklin was merely a good Samaritan just providing a ride. They did not believe his claims and ultimately found him guilty as charged.
Franklin has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur and Barbara De Pena are prosecuting the case.
BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 42 mos custody BOP; 3 years SRT; $100 Special Assessment; the Court waives the $5,000 additional special assessment required under the JVTA based on a finding of indigency; standard and mandatory conditions; substance abuse treatment and testing
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