SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: PECUNIARY BENEFITTexas Penal Code (PC) § 20.05(b)(1)(c)
“SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: PECUNIARY BENEFIT” stands for Smuggling of Persons for Profit, a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 20.05(b)(1)(c). It is punishable by 2 to 20 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: PECUNIARY BENEFIT” mean?
“SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: PECUNIARY BENEFIT” stands for Smuggling of Persons for Profit, a second-degree felony under Texas PC § 20.05(b)(1)(c).
Texas Penal Code § 20.05 defines smuggling of persons: knowingly using 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 to flee from an officer attempting a lawful arrest or detention; knowingly encouraging or inducing 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 knowingly assisting, guiding, or directing two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the owner's effective consent. This charge, under § 20.05(b)(1)(C), is the second-degree felony variant alleging the offense was committed with intent to obtain a pecuniary benefit, meaning payment or other economic gain. Since a 2021 amendment, payment is not an element of base smuggling; the profit motive is the aggravating fact elevating this charge.
How did real SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: PECUNIARY BENEFIT 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
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Smuggling of Persons for Profit in Texas?
2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-degree felony | 2 to 20 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.33 |
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: PECUNIARY BENEFIT in Texas?
The median bail is $20,000, and 14% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 5,459 Texas bail settings for this charge (20 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $20,000 (middle half: $10,000 – $33,250). 14% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 259 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (1,294 records), the median was $25,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | 1,641 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 1% | 11% |
| Val Verde | 1,010 | $25,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Kinney | 754 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $10,000 | 79% | 0% |
| Webb | 287 | $20,000 | $5,000 – $40,000 | 1% | 0% |
| Uvalde | 191 | $6,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | 12% | 6% |
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: PECUNIARY BENEFIT?
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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.