Ex-Tenn. Highway Patrol Sgt. pleads guilty to smuggling Honduran woman into US

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A former Tennessee Highway Patrol sergeant pleaded guilty Tuesday to transporting a Honduran woman to Tennessee last year.

Court documents reveal 70-year-old Ronald Strickland from Franklin smuggled a 22-year-old woman from Honduras into the United States for sex.

According to court documents, Strickland paid someone $8,000 to smuggle the woman back to Tennessee. He's facing five years in prison and a large fine if he's convicted.

The criminal complaint against Ronald Strickland said he made numerous trips to Honduras. It also said Strickland texted the woman in early 2016 about uniting with him and engaging in a sexual relationship.

Strickland then began a series of text communications with someone in Honduras and others to discuss smuggling the woman into the Unites States. Court documents said the woman told agents she informed Strickland that she was coming into the U.S. illegally because it had always been her dream to come to the United States.

She also denied being in a romantic relationship with Strickland and said Strickland sent her money to support her family.

Strickland paid a contact $8000 to organize a pick-up in Houston, Texas. He then drove the woman to his home on Columbia Pike in Franklin.

Strickland's Attorney Ed Yarbrough said reports that this is a human trafficking case are incorrect.

"Well this is not a human trafficking case," Yarbrough said. "I would say the headline is probably journalistic overkill."

Yarbrough said he and his client are seeking a lesser sentence when Strickland faces a judge in October.

"We anticipate putting up some proof in the sentencing hearing, and of course he will be seeking probation," Yarbrough said.

Strickland was caught by federal agents who were acting on a tip. The agents found the 22-year-old woman in his Franklin home, where investigators determined that the woman had been illegally smuggled into the United States

Strickland is set to face a federal judge for sentencing on October 17.