Trucking company faces charges for alleged cabotage

A Texas-based trucking company owner has been indicted for allegedly employing unauthorized drivers to transport domestic freight.

Armando Martinez Varela faces charges involving employment of unauthorized workers, encouraging or inducing unlawful entry or residence, harboring aliens, and making materially false statements to federal investigators, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

According to the indictment, Varela owned VMS Transport LLC and recruited drivers admitted under B-1 nonimmigrant status to transport domestic freight without authorization. The drivers allegedly picked up trailers in Laredo and delivered shipments throughout the United States.

B-1 status permits certain temporary business activities, including qualifying international transportation, but does not authorize employment transporting freight solely within the United States.

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