Thirty-three-year-old Zachary Taylor Blood of Galveston admitted to smuggling people in a flag-draped coffin. On Oct. 26, Blood drove a van modified to transport caskets to the border checkpoint near Falfurrias. Agents took a look at a coffin in the van, asked Blood what was in there and he replied "dead guy. Navy guy." The coffin was in bad shape and the American flag was taped to the top with packing tape. Agents opened it up to find two, very much alive, Mexican nationals.
The two men admitted to paying a smuggler to get them to San Antonio. They claimed that after crossing the river into the United States, they were taken to a parking lot where Blood was waiting for them. He had them get into the coffin and began driving north.
Blood could get up to five years in a federal prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced May 11.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD