Federal prosecutors say a Mexican national who led a smuggling operation that transported more than 500 migrants has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
A man federal prosecutors say helped lead a large migrant smuggling operation in South Texas has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, Pedro Luis Martinez-Jaquez, 36, of Piedras Negras, Mexico, received 365 months in federal prison Monday in Del Rio for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death.
Investigators say Martinez-Jaquez helped run a smuggling organization that operated in southwest Texas from January 2021 through July 2022.
Authorities say the group smuggled more than 500 migrants into the United States and generated over $4.7 million during that time. Migrants were typically charged about $9,500 each to be transported, according to prosecutors.
Court records say Martinez-Jaquez coordinated transportation once migrants crossed into the U.S. In one case, investigators say he reported that a migrant being transported had “passed out.” Photos later recovered during the investigation showed the migrant had died.
During a search of his residence, agents found dozens of cell phones believed to belong to migrants who had been smuggled into the country.
Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses also ordered Martinez-Jaquez to pay a $500,000 money judgment.
The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from federal and local law enforcement agencies.