Mexicans Busted In Fake UPS Van

Illegal immigrants arrested in pony UPS van
Associated Press

In this undated photo released by the U.S Border Patrol on Wed. May 23,2012 showing a fake United Parcel Service delivery vehicle that had been carrying 13 illegal immigrants. The U.S. Border Patrol says they stopped the van last Friday May 18,2012 as it tried to circumvent a highway checkpoint near Niland, Calif., near the Mexican border. Officials say they found the 13 Mexican citizens hiding inside the back of the van, which looked like a legitimate UPS delivery vehicle. A 21-year-old U.S. man was arrested on suspicion of smuggling. (AP Photo/U.S Border Patrol)
NILAND, Calif. (AP) — It was a special delivery indeed — 13 suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico stuffed in a phony UPS van. The U.S. Border Patrol said Tuesday that agents stopped the van Friday as the driver tried to circumvent a highway checkpoint near Niland, about 150 miles east of San Diego in California's Imperial Valley, near the Mexican border.
The van looked like a legitimate United Parcel Service Inc. delivery vehicle, except the company decal on the back door was slightly crooked.
The driver, U.S. citizen Daniel Lopez, was charged in federal court in El Centro with illegal transportation of aliens, authorities said.
Carlos Goens, the driver of another truck, was charged with the same crime after being detained at a Border Patrol checkpoint. He is suspected of coordinating with the UPS van.
Migrants told authorities they had agreed to pay between $5,000 and $8,000 each to be smuggled into the United States, according to the criminal complaint.
An agent reported seeing Goens leave a suspected stash house for illegal immigrants in the town of Brawley, leading authorities to the UPS vehicle. Another agent pulled over the UPS van at a mobile home park in Niland.
Attorneys for Goens and Lopez did not immediately respond to phone messages Wednesday.
Border Patrol agents recently began visiting Imperial Valley businesses and government agencies to warn about smugglers cloning their vehicles, said spokesman Adrian Corona. Telltale signs include misspellings on agency or company logos and crooked decals.
In recent years, smugglers have used fake vehicles of the California Highway Patrol and Imperial Irrigation District. Last year, a white van filled with 13 illegal immigrants from Mexico dressed as clean-cut Marines were stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint near San Diego.
A Border Patrol agent who had served in the Marine Corps wasn't fooled, especially when the driver didn't know the Corps' birthday.
MTW- Holy crap! They actually have stopped 13 whole illegals? Make sure, Mexicans, that next time you have your facts straight, and at least have a REAL UPS truck, or put the stickers on straight. Damn half-assed job. The ones already here do good work, so I have heard. Nobama-Nobiden in 2012!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy