Texan convicted over $610K smuggled in spare tire

South Texan convicted of bulk cash smuggling, $610K found in spare tire of Mexico-bound truck

Published On: Jan 08 2013 02:18:10 PM CST
BROWNSVILLE, Texas -

A South Texas man driving to Mexico faces up to five years in prison for trying to smuggling more than $610,000 hidden in a spare tire.

Prosecutors say 43-year-old Domingo Quesada-Hernandez of Brownsville pleaded guilty Tuesday to evading currency reporting requirements. He's free on bond pending sentencing this spring.

The money was seized during a May 2012 inspection at the Gateway International Port of Entry in Brownsville. Investigators say Quesada-Hernandez was driving a pickup truck and denied having any cash in excess of the $10,000 reporting rules.

Officers noticed fresh markings on the spare tire, which appeared to be larger than the other tires on the pickup. An X-ray revealed the taped bundles of cash in the spare tire.

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