Corpus Christi man convicted in coastal smuggling case
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2026
CORPUS CHRISTI – A Corpus Christi man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle two people in the country illegally through the Intracoastal Waterway, federal prosecutors said.
Christopher Henson, 47, pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales sentenced Henson to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Prosecutors said Henson has remained in custody and will continue to be held pending transfer to a federal prison facility.
Federal authorities said Henson used a boat to bypass interior Border Patrol checkpoints by posing the trips as fishing excursions. Investigators said he traveled south to pick up people in the country illegally at Port Mansfield, then headed north to dock at locations beyond the checkpoints.
According to prosecutors, authorities were conducting surveillance March 30, 2025, in an area known as a drop-off point for people transported along coastal waterways when they saw Henson preparing to dock his boat.
As law enforcement approached, Henson jumped into the water and tried to flee, prosecutors said. Authorities then took him into custody and found a firearm in his jacket.
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A search of the boat uncovered two people who had traveled north with Henson from Port Mansfield, according to prosecutors.
The court also considered Henson’s prior smuggling conduct and possession of a firearm on two occasions despite being a felon, federal prosecutors said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont prosecuted it.
Jakob Gurley is a multimedia journalist with the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at jakob.gurley@vicad.com.