Press Releases
SOUTH CAROLINA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS BY AIRPLANE
March 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton, and Michael A. Holt, Special Agent-in-Charge, Immigration
and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations in New Orleans, announced today that JAMES
LEROY PIERSON, a resident of South Carolina, pleaded guilty today to transporting illegal aliens
via an airplane for profit, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii).
On January 28, 2008, United States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) began tracking a
small private airplane traveling from south Texas with an expected stop in Meridian, Mississippi,
based upon the flight plan on record. CBP determined that the airplane had made 3 previous trips
from McAllen, Texas, to Clemson, South Carolina. Based upon this and other information, CBP
began pursuing the airplane from Texas. When the airplane stopped in Meridian, four passengers
were removed from the airplane and, upon questioning, all admitted to being illegal aliens. Pierson
was then questioned and admitted that the passengers were illegal aliens and that he was being paid to
transport these illegal aliens via airplane from McAllen, Texas, to Clemson, South Carolina.
Transporting illegal aliens carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000
fine. Peirson will be sentenced by United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, on June 2, 2008
at 9:00 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Lampton commended the investigative efforts of the Special Agents of the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Customs and Border Protection. The
case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Hurst.
