HIGHGATE — Guillermo Paredes-Bobadilla, 31, of Honduras and Brunswick, New Jersey, was arraigned this week in Burlington on an indictment charging him with unlawfully transporting three individuals from Guatemala who entered the United States illegally.
Paredes-Bobadilla pleaded not guilty and remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in accordance with a prior order of the Court.
According to public documents in the case, during the early morning hours of December 1, based on information suggesting a nearby illegal border crossing, the United States Border Patrol initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Paredes-Bobadilla in Highgate.
Border Patrol identified Paredes-Bobadilla as a Honduran national living in New Jersey who had filed an asylum claim, which had not been adjudicated.
The three passengers acknowledged they were from Guatemala and did not have legal status to be in the United States.
The passengers stated that each paid $1,000 to be smuggled into the United States and that a foot guide led them to the pick up location.
As currently charged Paredes-Bobadilla, faces up to five years of imprisonment if convicted.
