Four of the 39 people discovered locked in a sweltering hot truck in South Texas are in federal custody and one of them is in trouble for re-entering the United States.
The undocumented immigrants were inside the trailer for more than four hours and were let out when someone spotted them behind a truck stop in Moore, about 40 miles southwest of San Antonio, and called 911.
Inside officers found 28 adult males, seven adult females and four minors from Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico.
Body camera video shows the immigrants' packed in the truck's rear, several gasping for air and pushing to get out as authorities opened the doors. Some were treated for dehydration, as temperatures reached the mid-90s.
The Department of Justice said four of the undocumented immigrants are in federal custody. Three are being held on material witness warrants in connection with the indictment against Drew Christopher Potter, of Watauga.
A fourth, Juan Velasquez-Urbina, a resident of Mexico, has been charged with re-entry after deportation. Velasquez-Urbina was deported in June 2013.
Velasquez-Urbina waived his preliminary and detention hearing and has a date for arraignment in federal court on October 19. If convicted, Velasquez-Urbina faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has taken custody of the 35 other undocumented immigrants, including adults and children.
Potter remained in custody Friday. A federal grand jury indicted him Wednesday on human smuggling charges. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
