The Associated Press
Published: May 9, 2008

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ A Guatemala national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Roanoke on charges related to transportation of illegal immigrants.

U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said in a news release Friday that 24-year-old Pedro Antonio Antonio Mateo was indicted on one count related to transportation of seven men. He said Mateo is in the United States illegally.

Immigration agents were called to investigate after a Virginia state trooper stopped an SUV along Interstate 81 in Botetourt County (BAHT’-uh-tott) and discovered a group of people inside.

If convicted, Mateo faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.