A Texas man has admitted to attempting to smuggle people inside a coffin draped with a U.S. flag.  Zachary Taylor Blood, 33, of Galveston, admitted to one count of alien smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Corpus Christi, January 27 (RHC)-- A Texas man has admitted to attempting to smuggle people inside a coffin draped with a U.S. flag.  Zachary Taylor Blood, 33, of Galveston, admitted to one count of alien smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Blood reportedly was driving a gray van that had been modified to transport caskets when he entered the inspection lane of the checkpoint near Falfurrias. 

Officials saw a coffin and asked Blood what he was transporting in the van. He replied “Dead guy, Navy guy.”  However, the coffin was in poor condition and the American flag was taped to the top with packing tape.   He was referred for a secondary inspection, where they discovered two Mexican nationals, both unlawfully present within the United States, hidden inside the coffin.

Both men admitted to paying a smuggler $6,000 to get them to San Antonio.  They said after they crossed the river into the United States, they were taken to a parking lot where Blood was waiting for them.  He had them get into the coffin and began driving north.

Legal authorities say that Blood faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine after he is sentenced May 11th.