A routine traffic stop Saturday by a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy led to the arrest of two women and detainment of five passengers crammed into a 2003 Kia Sorento on immigration violation issues.
The stop by Deputy Wes King near the corner of Falkenburg Road and Progress Boulevard was at 5:15 p.m.
Deputies said the Sorento didn't have a tag. When the deputy pulled the vehicle over, he found the driver didn't have a valid license and was holding $6,000 in cash, deputies said.
Sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon said the vehicle was registered in Alabama.
"We don't know if the tag fell or what," he said.
The driver, Kathleen Roberson, 21, of Phenix, Ala., was arrested and the $6,000 was confiscated. She was charged with driving without a valid license and remained jailed this morning on $250 bail. A hold was placed on her, pending charges from the U.S. Border Patrol.
McKinnon identified her as being in charge in the human smuggling attempt. The vehicle was headed to Immokalee where,the passengers were to work as migrant farm labor, he said.
Six passengers piled out of the Sorento. One, Jessica Roland, 29, also of Phenix, Ala., was charged with possession of a small amount of cocaine. She also remained in jail this morning. Bail was set at $2,000. McKinnon said that when the vehicle was pulled over, Roland was sitting in the front seat, but switched seats with one of the others in the cargo area of the vehicle.
The other five, deputies said, all are Mexican citizens in the country illegally.
A Border Patrol agent was sent out and seized the vehicle and the $6,000.
The five Mexican citizens were held pending deportation.
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