LAREDO, TEXAS — The owner of a Laredo trucking company has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly using drivers with B-1 visas to haul domestic freight, work those visas do not allow. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced the charges on November 10.
Armando Martinez Varela, 56, owner of VMS Transport LLC, is charged with employment of unauthorized workers, encouraging or inducing unlawful entry or residence, harboring aliens, and making materially false statements to federal investigators.
The Allegations
According to the indictment, Varela recruited drivers admitted under B-1 nonimmigrant status to haul domestic freight. The drivers allegedly picked up trailers in Laredo and delivered shipments around the country. B-1 status allows certain temporary business activities, including qualifying international transportation. A B-1 driver can haul freight from another country into the U.S. but cannot move loads from one U.S. point to another under cabotage laws.
Between February 20 and May 15, VMS records allegedly showed 1,044 domestic trips involving 57 B-1 visa drivers. The indictment alleges VMS paid these drivers 25 to 50 cents per mile, compared with 70 cents for authorized drivers doing similar work. Prosecutors say the arrangement saved the company about $299,606 in labor costs.
Varela is also accused of arranging housing for the drivers between assignments instead of having them return to Mexico.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. ICE Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Cortez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation, not evidence of guilt.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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