THREE BRENHAM RESIDENTS AMONG FOUR ARRESTED IN GILLESPIE CO. HUMAN SMUGGLING INVESTIGATION

  

Two Brenham residents taken into custody last week on charges of human smuggling are among four suspects in a larger, out-of-county investigation dating back to 2022.

Brenham police arrested 22-year-old Aubree Sarah Powell on Thursday and 24-year-old Oregon Shaquille Franklin Hill on Friday, both on active warrants out of Gillespie County for 11 counts of Smuggling of Persons.

Fredericksburg Police Chief Brian Vorauer told KWHI that Powell and Franklin Hill are two of four people arrested thus far in the department’s investigation.

The case began after a traffic stop on June 3, 2022 in the 1100 block of Highway 290 in Fredericksburg.  Three vehicles were involved in the stop, and, according to Vorauer, police found 11 individuals that were allegedly being smuggled.  No description was provided of the individuals in the incident.

Two people were arrested at the scene: 22-year-old Michael Cuevas of Brenham and 20-year-old Dillon Thomas of College Station.

According to Vorauer, further investigation and evidence obtained led to Powell and Frankin Hill being identified for their potential involvement.  The Gillespie County District Attorney presented their names to a grand jury, which indicted the two in January, prompting the issuance of the warrants. 

Vorauer said the case remains active at this time.