A Dallas man faces a federal human smuggling charge after police found dozens of people fleeing from the back of his 18-wheeler semi-truck in Texas on Thursday.
The Department of Justice alleged that the truck's 49-year-old driver, Aron Bernard Griffin, "admitted to Agents that he had made an agreement with another person to pick up the undocumented individuals in Laredo and transport them to San Antonio in return for financial gain," the department said in a press release Friday.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a witness contacted the San Antonio Police Department about a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 10 and as a police officer approached the vehicle, the back door swung open and several people ran out.
Video obtained by NBC News affiliate WOAI showed dozens of people leaving the truck and running in every direction.
Griffin, who has a preliminary court hearing today, faces one count of smuggling of undocumented noncitizens.
If convicted, he could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
NBC News left a voicemail for Griffin at his home telephone number but did not receive a response.