FHP busts human smuggling scheme in Lake City

Florida Highway Patrol arrested a couple smuggling 10 illegal immigrants into Lake City on Tuesday.

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According to the arrest report, at approximately 9:55 a.m., a patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 75 near mile marker 426 when he noticed a window tint violation on a Kia Sedona bearing a Tennessee license plate.

During the stop, the driver was identified as Alex Garcia, an immigrant from Guatemala. Next to him in the passenger seat was Floridalma Lopez. The trooper noticed Garcia was visibly shaking and Lopez would not look or speak to him. In addition, Garcia refused to roll down the window when asked, and a large body odor was emitting from the back of the car.

Due to these factors, the trooper asked Garcia to step out of the car so that they could speak, and he complied with no issues. It was quickly learned that Garcia had no license or registration.

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At the same time, another trooper appeared at the scene and located 10 additional passengers in the back of Garcia’s van. Garcia and Lopez were subsequently arrested and the passengers were asked to exit the vehicle. All individuals were handed over to the Department of Homeland Security, which learned each passenger were in the United States illegally.

Through interviews, police learned that Garcia and Lopez were being paid to transport the immigrants from Memphis, Tennessee to South Florida for work. They claimed to be paid $500 for gas. Police also located an envelope in Lopez’s possession with $2,000 in it that she claimed to have made working in the U.S. Approximately 600 pesos were also found in a backpack located in the back seat of the van.

Garcia has been charged with 10 counts of human smuggling and one count of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. Lopez has been charged with 10 counts of human smuggling.

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