Human Smuggling Bust Near Big Bend: Texarkana Man Charged

A Texarkana man is facing multiple felony charges following a traffic stop in far West Texas that uncovered a human smuggling operation.

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According to the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, deputies conducted a traffic stop Saturday afternoon south of Marathon, Texas. This small community serves as a gateway for tourists traveling to and from Big Bend National Park.

Brewster County Sheriff's Department via Facebook

During the stop, deputies identified the driver as Kenneth Earl Williamson of Texarkana. Authorities say Williamson was transporting eight individuals who were in the country illegally, seven males and one female, who is not pictured, from Mexico and Venezuela.

Williamson was taken into custody and is now facing eight felony counts of smuggling of persons, one for each individual involved.

The eight individuals were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents for processing and removal proceedings.

Officials have not released additional details about the investigation at this time.

Brewster County, which includes large stretches of remote desert and major travel routes leading to Big Bend, has seen similar smuggling cases in recent months as law enforcement continues to monitor activity in the region.

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