SMUGGLING OF PERSONSTexas Penal Code (PC) § 20.05(b)
Smuggling of Persons is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 20.05(b). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “SMUGGLING OF PERSONS” mean?
Smuggling of Persons is a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 20.05(b).
Texas Penal Code § 20.05 defines smuggling of persons. The State must prove the person knowingly did one of three things: used a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport an individual with intent to conceal the individual from a peace officer or special investigator, or with intent to flee from a person the actor knew was a peace officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or detain the actor; encouraged or induced a person to enter or remain in the United States in violation of federal law by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection; or assisted, guided, or directed two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the effective consent of the land's owner. Subsection (b), cited in the court record, is the grading provision, listing aggravating circumstances that move the offense above its base level.
What usually happens to a SMUGGLING OF PERSONS charge?
33% ended without a conviction, 9% in deferred adjudication and 58% in a conviction.
How 33 resolved SMUGGLING OF PERSONS charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 9 counties (Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a SMUGGLING OF PERSONS case take to resolve?
Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 217 days of filing.
Across 33 resolved SMUGGLING OF PERSONS charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 217 days. The middle half took between 154 and 343 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real SMUGGLING OF PERSONS cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Smuggling of Persons in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for SMUGGLING OF PERSONS in Texas?
The median bail is $15,000, and 11% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 25,291 Texas bail settings for this charge (60 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $15,000 (middle half: $10,000 – $35,000). 11% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 961 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (5,971 records), the median was $20,000 and 4% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Val Verde | 4,052 | $20,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 1% | 1% |
| Kinney | 2,678 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $10,000 | 81% | 0% |
| El Paso | 2,657 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 2% | 7% |
| Bexar | 2,256 | $50,000 | $10,000 – $100,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Travis | 1,303 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $10,000 | 2% | 2% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
Charged with SMUGGLING OF PERSONS?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.