Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, March 25, 2026:
- You can't do that... 39 snakes seized from truck at border.
- Owner-operator charged for allegedly trafficking drugs.
- Former fleet owner's guilty plea for COVID loan fraud.
Snakes on a truck: Border officers intercept live pythons bound for Mexico
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations agents conducting outbound operations intercepted 39 live pythons hidden within a tractor earlier this month.
A live python is removed from a bag, part of an interception of 39 live pythons by CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
“The interception of live pythons at the World Trade Bridge highlights the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in enforcing laws that protect both our borders and our environment,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “CBP remains committed to preventing the illegal importation and exportation of wildlife and ensuring compliance with all federal regulations.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents were contacted and took custody of the animals. Due to their condition, the pythons were transported to a controlled environment. Penalties totaling $34,824 for export violations were issued in connection with this incident.
CBP seized the tractor and trailer. The case remains under investigation by Fish and Wildlife Service and Homeland Security Investigations.
Exporting live reptiles from the United States to Mexico requires compliance with several U.S. and international regulations, CBP noted.
Owner-operator among three charged in drug trafficking ring
Three men, including an owner-operator, have been indicted in Ohio for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine throughout Summit County and the surrounding regions.
According to the allegations in the superseding indictment, from about April 2025 to February 2026, Erin House, 53, and Ishmael Wahid, 52, supplied Roy Wimberly, 50, with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to sell throughout Northeast Ohio.
Investigators found that Wahid communicated often with House, who was the owner of House Brothers Trucking. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER lookup, House Brothers Trucking is a one-truck operation based in Jurupa Valley, California.
During a search at a traffic stop on I-71 in Medina County, approximately eight kilograms of cocaine and approximately $144,000 in cash were found hidden in a compartment of a Peterbilt semi-truck driven by House and owned by House Brothers Trucking. At a separate search conducted at a public storage facility rented by Wahid, agents found approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, and approximately five kilograms of fentanyl.
Wahid was later arrested at a traffic stop after agents seized additional methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and more than $84,000 in cash from his vehicle. Wimberly’s residence was also subject to a court-authorized search warrant, and agents found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and an arsenal of firearms.
All three men are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine, among other charges.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by a court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
[Related: Two truck drivers arrested in $7 million cocaine bust]
Former trucking company owner pleads guilty to COVID load fraud
A former Wheeling, West Virginia-based trucking company owner has admitted to fraud totaling nearly $300,000 in COVID relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Bradley Temple, 48, of Delray Beach, Florida (formerly of Wheeling, West Virginia), recently pled guilty to unlawful money transactions. According to court documents and statements made in court, Temple, who operated Righteous Brother’s Trucking, applied for and received both a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) authorized by the CARES Act to assist small businesses and individuals who suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Temple made false representations regarding the business to obtain $277,456 in loans. Temple then used those funds for personal or non-permissible expenses, including obtaining a $40,000 cashier’s check to purchase a vehicle.
Temple is facing up to 10 years in prison and will be required to pay restitution. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence.
[Related: Trucking company owners plead guilty to PPP loan fraud]
