A Honduran national residing illegally in Houston has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in transporting illegal aliens. Marvin Reyes, 39, pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Morales to serve 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The court also imposed a $1 million money judgment.
The sentencing follows an investigation revealing that Reyes led a human smuggling organization operating out of Houston since July 2021. This operation coordinated the movement of over 200 illegal aliens through Border Patrol checkpoints near Sarita and Falfurrias and arranged private flights from Weslaco to Houston.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei highlighted the collaboration between Corpus Christi prosecutors and law enforcement partners, stating: “Thanks to the teamwork of our office’s Corpus Christi prosecutors and their law enforcement partners, the leader of an alien smuggling ring has been put out of action.” He emphasized the importance of such interdictions for national security: “Successful interdiction of illegal alien smuggling at the border or at interior checkpoints benefits the nation as a whole.”
Reyes received proceeds amounting to at least $1 million from these activities, according to bank records. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.
Reyes will remain in custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.