Police briefs: Woman pleads guilty to smuggling husband in the trunk of car

A woman accused of trying to smuggle her common-law husband into the U.S. by hiding him in the trunk of her car has pleaded guilty to the charge of alien smuggling.

Lashonda Dawn Martinez was arrested Monday afternoon at Veteran’s International Bridge by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, court records show. Martinez’s age and place of residence could not be determined Friday evening.

On Friday morning Martinez pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio. She was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending her sentencing.

The arrest took place when CBP officers checking the trunk of the vehicle discovered her common-law husband, Juan Gabriel Morales Nino, hiding under heavy clothing and a black tarp, records show. The criminal complaint didn’t specify the make or model of the vehicle.

Once in custody, Martinez told CBP officers that she knew she was smuggling an undocumented immigrant, but she didn’t do it for monetary gain, but because of her relationship with the man, records show.

CBP arrests Tennessee man wanted on possession of child pornography charges

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has arrested a Tennessee man wanted on possession of child pornography and other sex-related charges, said an agency press release.

John Christopher Hargrove, 58, was arrested Thursday afternoon at Veterans International Bridge after CBP officers determined Hargrove was the man named in a warrant out of Memphis, Tenn.

Hargrove was wanted by the FBI on the charges of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of pornographic materials, officials said.

The arrest took place when Hargrove drove a white 1999 GMC Jimmy truck to an inspection booth at the international bridge on his way back from Matamoros, CBP said.

At the inspection both, CBP officers matched Hargrove with warrants and arrested him, the agency said.

After his arrest, Hargrove was turned over to the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department deputies who transported him to Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center pending his transfer to Tennessee.