SCOTT CITY, Ks. - A Mexican citizen is charged with unlawfully transporting 16 illegal aliens from Houston to Kansas.
Police say they uncovered the plot when officers stopped 33 year old Joni Rivera-Rodriguez's passenger van last month in Scott City, Kansas.
The arrest occured when a police officer approached to talk to a group of people standing around the van.
At that time, the officer learned the passengers had paid to be transported from Houston to destinations in Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
7 of the passengers are charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported.
Most of them were from Guatemala and Honduras.
If convicted, the driver could face 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 for transporting illegal aliens.
