Trucker Charged in Human Trafficking Deaths Has Criminal History

The truck driver facing human trafficking charges in the deaths of 10 undocumented immigrants being transported in the back of a sweltering tractor-trailer in Texas had his commercial driving privileges suspended three months ago, the AP reports. The state of Florida suspended 60-year-old James Bradley Jr.'s privileges after he failed to submit a new medical card meant to show he was physically fit enough to drive. In addition, Bradley has numerous citations for violating federal safety rules dating back to 1995, including two tickets for logging more driving hours than allowed.

Outside of his driving history, Bradley has a criminal record that goes back to 1997, My San Antonio reports. That history includes arrests and charges in multiple states for menacing others, assault, escape, grand theft, and traffic offenses. He was convicted of felony domestic violence and sent to prison multiple times for violating parole. Bradley's criminal history could keep him locked up as a flight risk. According to the Washington Post, Pyle Transportation, the trucking company with which Bradley worked, also has a checkered history. It owed more than $150,000 in back taxes as of May 2014 and was charged with a felony for falsifying reports or records in 2000. (More human trafficking stories.)