Pharr man convicted for human smuggling again

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Pharr man who was previously convicted for the same crime has been ordered to serve eight years in prison.

Anthony Lenard Williams, 27, was on bond when he continued to coordinate the smuggling of undocumented individuals. Authorities found Williams responsible for smuggling at least 560 undocumented people into the country. And those are only the ones that law enforcement found.

"Some of the loads of undocumented [people] included as many 115 people in the back of a tractor-trailer, at times including unaccompanied minors," a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office stated. "In one smuggling attempt, some of the people had to be treated for severe dehydration because of the dangerous way they were transported."

An investigation into the smuggling organization began in 2021 when authorities learned that thousands of immigrants were being transported in tractor trailers.

Through the course of that investigation, law enforcement identified Miguel Angel Hernandez and Williams as coordinators. 

Hernandez, 26 of Donna, was previously sentenced to nine years for his role in the organization but is believed to have held a a higher position of leadership than Williams.

Williams pleaded guilty April 28, 2023.

Previously released on bond, Williams was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.