Several men are in federal custody after being stopped in the Valley.

Pablo Eliosa Lara is accused of knowingly transporting undocumented immigrants for financial gain.

Virginia State Police stopped Lara last week on Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County.

A federal investigator says Lara, who is himself considered an undocumented immigrant, was driving 12 undocumented immigrants from Arizona to New Jersey. Some of them were looking for work.

This isn't the only recent instance when people have been accused of transporting undocumented immigrants and have been caught in the Valley.

Late last month, a man was sentenced to 36 months in prison for a similar crime.

In this most recent case, investigators say Lara has been caught several times near the U.S.-Mexican border.

According to an affidavit, Lara was allowed to leave the country. An investigator says Lara also admitted to transporting undocumented immigrants one time before.

State police serving Shenandoah County say these cases aren't common. They say they only occur once or twice a year.

Lara is due in court next week.