A New Orleans resident, Mailon Almendares-Martinez, aged 21, has been convicted for participating in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Almendares-Martinez faced a jury trial that lasted three days, culminating in a guilty verdict for conspiracy to transport aliens. The jury, after less than an hour of deliberation, found him guilty as charged.
During the trial, it was revealed that Almendares-Martinez collaborated with others between October 30 and November 2, 2022, to move aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. Testimonies detailed that he enlisted friends in New Orleans for this operation, promising payments between $1,000 and $2,000 per alien transported. Communication regarding the logistics of the operation, such as alien pick-up locations, was conducted via WhatsApp messages and phone calls.
The attempt to transport these individuals was interrupted when a suspected rival smuggling group opened fire, injuring two aliens. One victim was a Honduran national who had recently crossed into the United States illegally. Following the shooting, Almendares-Martinez instructed his associates to continue to Houston without seeking medical help for the injured.
On November 1, 2022, the aliens were taken to a Houston motel. The subsequent day, the aliens escaped, and law enforcement arrested four individuals, including Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla, and Cesar Monge-Milla.
The defense suggested that someone else used Almendares-Martinez's WhatsApp to communicate with the conspirators. However, the jury was not convinced by this claim.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei remarked, “This case demonstrates... that human smuggling is an inhumane, dangerous, and sometimes fatal business.” He emphasized that those who engage in or facilitate such acts for profit warrant prosecution.
The trial was overseen by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, who scheduled sentencing for August 11. Almendares-Martinez could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Following the verdict, he was taken into custody as he awaited sentencing.
In the related case, seven others from New Orleans had previously pleaded guilty: Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla, Cesar Monge-Milla, Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano.
The investigation was handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, with help from the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn acted as prosecutors.
This case is connected to "Operation Take Back America," an initiative seeking to combat illegal immigration and dismantle criminal networks.