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Date: 05-12-2022

Case Style:

United States of America v. Roderick Dewayne Chisley

Case Number: 5:22-cr-00044

Judge: Diana Saldana

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Webb County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney: Adriana Arce-Flores

Description: Laredo, Texas criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with conspiring to transport and transporting undocumented aliens within the United States.

On Dec. 17, 2021, authorities stopped Roderick DeWayne Chisley, age 47, shortly after he passed through the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on I-35.

Authorities discovered the tractor trailer he was driving was stolen. Upon further inspection, law enforcement found 52 undocumented individuals in the trailer. They were later determined to be illegally present in the country.

Chisley admitted he was going to be paid $50,000 to transport the tractor trailer from Laredo to San Antonio.

At trial, law enforcement testimony explained the laws governing the commercial trucking industry and about standard practices of truck drivers.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Chisley had no knowledge of the 52 aliens in his trailer.

However, the jury heard additional testimony from two of the undocumented aliens. They described how the vehicle began moving almost immediately after they entered the trailer. It did not stop until they reached the checkpoint.

The jury did not believe the defense story and found Chisley guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña presided over trial and will set sentencing at a future date. At that time, Chisley faces up to 10 years of imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.











Outcome: Defendant was found guilty.

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