2 men arrested in Berks on charges of smuggling undocumented immigrants
Nov. 8—A Pennsylvania state trooper arrested two Arizona men after stopping an SUV on Interstate 78 in northwestern Berks County and discovering evidence of human smuggling, according to arrest documents.
Trooper Tristan Shoopack of the Jonestown, Lebanon County, station was westbound on I-78 about 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Bethel Township in Berks when he saw a Nissan Armada with an unreadable license plate ahead of him, according to the probable cause affidavit available Monday.
He also noticed the windows were heavily tinted, which was another reason to stop the vehicle.
According to the documents:
The driver, Erik Guzman, 26, of Phoenix, identified himself with his Mexican ID card. The trooper questioned Guzman and saw further signs of criminal activity. Guzman allowed a search of the SUV.
Shoopack found a bulk amount of money in the passenger area and a journal that "included numerous U.S. states and numbers, consistent with smuggling contraband."
Guzman and his passenger, Martinez Hernandez Gerardo, were taken into custody and transported to the Hamburg station to be interviewed further. Another trooper interviewed Guzman who admitted the money was payment for transporting undocumented immigrants from the Phoenix area to northern U.S. states.
Both men were charged with dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity and conspiracy. They were committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail each following arraignment before District Judge Michael Chieffo in Reading Central Court.
State police contacted officials from the Department of Homeland Security, which was to begin an investigation Monday.
