Man Charged in Hernando County with Smuggling 20 Illegal Immigrants

BROOKSVILLE – The Florida Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Honduras national, after a traffic stop on I-75 led to the discovery of 20 illegal immigrants in the back of his Ford E350.

Officials say 25-year-old Jean Yanes Blanco was stopped for having dark tint, cracked windshield, and an overloaded vehicle.

Yanes Blanco only possessed a Honduras passport and told Troopers he was headed from Houston to the Orlando Area.

Inside the back of the van, Troopers discovered 20 illegal immigrants sitting on top of each other. None of the immigrants had drivers licenses, including Yanes Blanco.

Yanes Blanco was arrested and charged with 20 counts of Smuggling Immigrants into the State. The immigrants were turned over to Border Patrol.

Yanes Blanco remains behind bars in Hernando County on a $201,000 bond.