LAREDO, Texas — A Florida resident has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in transporting undocumented aliens from Laredo to San Antonio. Joseph Winslow, 54, of Fort Meade, Florida, received a 72-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

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Details of the Case

Joseph Winslow pleaded guilty on March 5 to charges related to human smuggling. The case came to light on December 30, 2020, when Winslow was stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35, about 29 miles north of Laredo. During the stop, authorities conducted an X-ray scan of Winslow’s tractor-trailer, revealing it was filled with people. A total of 149 undocumented aliens were discovered inside the trailer.

Winslow had reportedly agreed to transport these individuals in exchange for $10,000.

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Legal Proceedings

The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo, who handed down the sentence today. Winslow, who has been in custody, will remain detained pending his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined at a later date.

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Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett was responsible for prosecuting the case.

This sentence underscores the serious consequences of engaging in human smuggling and the ongoing efforts of U.S. law enforcement to combat such activities.

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